Be Informed, Responsible, and United — Matthias Blay tells Youth

Maamobi, Accra — The Greater Accra Regional Youth Director of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Mr. Matthias Blay, has urged youth in the region to be proactive, informed, and united if they are to fully leverage opportunities within local governance structures.

He made the remarks during a Regional Youth Engagement on the theme: Leadership and Active Participation: Shaping Inclusive and Sustainable Development held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Maamobi in the Ayawaso North Municipality.

The engagement brought together about 100 youth leaders from districts, municipalities, and metropolitan areas across the region to strengthen youth involvement in governance and decision-making at the local level.

Opening the session, Mr. Blay highlighted that many young people are unable to access opportunities within district and municipal assemblies because they lack knowledge of governance structures and are not in contact with key officials such as Assembly Members, Unit Committee Chairpersons, District Chief Executives, and Presiding Members.

“Youth must position themselves to be informed, responsible, and united. This is the only way to overcome barriers to inclusion and fully benefit from the opportunities that exist in our local governance structures,” he said.

The programme featured a presentation on Youth Leadership, Active Participation, Responsibility and Accountability, followed by breakout group discussions where participants explored challenges hindering youth inclusion in governance.

The groups later presented their findings and recommendations to the plenary.

Presenting on behalf of Group Five, Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, a renowned youth leader, journalist, and human rights activist, appealed to authorities to create practical opportunities for meaningful youth engagement, emphasizing that participation should go beyond consultation to active involvement in planning, implementation, and monitoring of development projects.

Also addressing the participants was Mr. Archibald Donkor Jr., Director of Programmes and Operations at NYA, who encouraged the youth to organize themselves into strong groups to amplify their voices, access opportunities, and actively participate in the Ghana Youth Federation (GYF), recently inaugurated to coordinate youth groups nationwide.

Mr. Blay further noted that the outcomes of the engagement would inform a strategic blueprint guiding the NYA’s youth programming and operations at the local level, helping strengthen youth leadership and development across Greater Accra.

The engagement, facilitated by a team from the NYA, included interactive question-and-answer sessions and group presentations, which sparked discussions on practical solutions to barriers limiting youth participation in governance.