George Opare Addo, Minister-designate for Youth Development and Empowerment, has pledged to lead with fairness and inclusivity, promising to prioritize the needs of Ghanaian youth without bias or favoritism.During his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 22, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Youth Organiser assured the committee of his dedication to the newly established ministry's objectives.

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“I started by saying that the day His Excellency nominated me, I put out a statement urging every Ghanaian youth to believe in the kind of leadership I bring on board. I am not going to be discriminatory. I’m here to serve the Ghanaian youth and no other person,” Opare Addo stated confidently.He also added that "I don’t care about your political party. Bring me a proposal that creates jobs for the youth, and I’ll work with you.

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"His assurances come at a time when expectations are high for the newly created Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, which aims to address the pressing challenges faced by Ghana's youth, including unemployment and limited opportunities for personal and professional growth.The African Development Bank (AfDB) has reported that Ghana's youth unemployment rate reached 7.

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16% in 2023, with the issue being particularly severe among those aged 15 to 24.This information comes from the AfDB's updated 2024 Africa Economic Outlook, which underscores a significant gender disparity in youth unemployment rates.According to the report, unemployment is notably higher among young women than their male counterparts. Female youth unemployment reached 36.7%, while the rate for males was 29.3%.

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The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has expressed deep concern about the escalating issue of youth unemployment in Ghana. He called for a united front to address the situation urgently, warning of severe consequences for the country if effective measures are not promptly implemented.“The joblessness, the homelessness and the hopelessness of the youth cannot be taken lightly.

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We must act together and now to prevent a journey to calamity or a journey of no return,” he stated.As the vetting process concludes, Opare Addo’s passion for youth development and his pledge to serve with integrity are likely to remain key factors in the evaluation of his nomination.

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