Invest in Ghana’s Youth to Secure the Nation’s Future – Hon. Emmanuel Ntekuni Urges Government

The Member of Parliament for Pru West, Hon. Emmanuel K. Ntekuni, has called on the Government of Ghana to prioritize investment in the country’s youthful population, warning that failure to do so would mortgage the nation’s future.

Hon. Ntekuni made the call in a statement on the floor of Parliament as part of Ghana’s commemoration of World Population Day, observed globally on July 11. The 2025 celebration is being held under the theme, “Empowering Young People to Create the Families They Want in a Fair and Hopeful World.”

Describing the youth as Ghana’s most valuable asset, Hon. Ntekuni emphasized that bold, people-centered policies that empower young people are essential for achieving sustainable development. He urged policymakers to tackle the social and economic barriers—such as early pregnancies, unemployment, and lack of access to reproductive health education—that hinder the full potential of young Ghanaians, especially young women.

“The future of this country rests in the hands of our youth. To fail in investing in them is to mortgage our collective prosperity,” he said.

He highlighted the relevance of this year’s global theme, which draws from the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development’s promise that every person has the right to make informed choices about their life and future, with the family as the fundamental unit of society.

Citing current population trends, Hon. Ntekuni noted that while many developed nations face population decline due to low fertility rates, Africa continues to experience rapid population growth. Ghana, with an estimated population of 36 million, contributes about 0.43% of the global population and is part of a continent projected to reach 1.55 billion people by the end of 2025.

Despite progress in reproductive health, Ghana’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) remains relatively high at 3.6 children per woman (2023/2024 estimates), compared to the global average of 2.3. He pointed out that rural areas in Ghana still record TFRs as high as 4.4, compared to 2.8 in urban settings.

“This presents both a challenge and an opportunity,” he observed. “A youthful population can drive economic growth, but only if adequately empowered and supported.”

Hon. Ntekonu stressed that empowering young people to make informed choices about marriage and childbearing is not about controlling families, but about creating the right conditions for them to flourish. He said education, economic opportunity, healthcare access, and social protection must all be integrated into national planning.

He also drew attention to Article 37(4) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which mandates the state to “maintain a population policy consistent with the aspirations and development needs and objectives of Ghana.”

Commending former President John Dramani Mahama, Hon. Ntekonu said Mahama’s commitment to youth empowerment and population management remains evident through his people-centered approach and job creation initiatives.

“This government is listening and responding,” he affirmed.

Quoting Pope John XXIII, he reminded the House that “The family is the first essential cell of human society,” and reiterated the words of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who once said, “A nation that fails to invest in its young people mortgages its future.”

Hon. Ntekonu urged the government and all stakeholders to take population issues seriously and place young people and families at the center of Ghana’s development agenda.

Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com