The Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment (MYDE) and the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to introduce a nationwide programme aimed at tackling drug abuse, cybercrime and other challenges affecting Ghana’s young people.
The ‘Sound Youth, Sound Nation’ (SYSNA) initiative was formally launched in Accra on Tuesday, 4 August, following the signing of the agreement by Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment George Opare Addo and the General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Cyril Fayose.
The partnership will bring together government agencies and faith-based organisations to respond to a broad range of issues facing young people, including unemployment, teenage pregnancy, financial illiteracy, unhealthy sexual relationships, environmental pollution and responsible digital citizenship.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Opare Addo said the agreement followed months of discussions after the establishment of the Ministry. He said SYSNA would focus on problems including limited access to information, a mismatch between young people’s skills and available opportunities, insufficient technology support, unemployment and concerns surrounding youth health and wellbeing.
The Minister said the government viewed young people as Ghana’s greatest national asset, adding that supporting their development was both a social responsibility and an economic necessity.
He identified the Christian Council’s nationwide reach and its long-standing involvement in national development, peacebuilding and social justice as important reasons for making it a strategic partner in the programme.
As part of the agreement, the partners will conduct awareness campaigns in schools, churches and communities. They will also establish youth clubs and community support groups, while training clergy, teachers, youth workers and peer educators.
The initiative will strengthen counselling and referral services for young people affected by substance abuse and related social difficulties. The Christian Council will lead grassroots mobilisation through its churches and affiliated institutions, while MYDE will oversee policy implementation in cooperation with organisations including the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Health Service and the Narcotics Control Commission.
SYSNA will also promote entrepreneurship, employability, volunteerism, patriotism, leadership development, climate action, responsible migration and digital responsibility. The broader aim is to help develop a generation of young Ghanaians who are responsible and productive.
Rev. Dr. Fayose described the agreement as “more than the signing of a document,” saying it reflected a shared commitment from the Church and the State to invest in Ghana’s youth.
He said more than one-third of Ghana’s population was made up of young people, creating a major demographic opportunity that could support economic growth and national transformation if young people received the necessary education, skills and values.
But he warned that inadequate investment could contribute to increased unemployment, insecurity and social instability.
Rev. Dr. Fayose also highlighted the risks associated with technology. While digital tools had opened up significant opportunities, he said they had also exposed many young people to cybercrime, misinformation, online exploitation and harmful digital content.
“Digital skills without integrity cannot build a strong nation,” he said, calling for digital transformation to be guided by ethical leadership, patriotism and responsible citizenship.
He also urged greater investment in entrepreneurship, innovation, technical and vocational education and digital literacy. In addition, he called for young people to play a greater role in governance and national development.
Implementation will be supervised by a Joint Steering Committee comprising representatives of MYDE and the Christian Council. The committee will approve annual work plans, monitor progress and seek support from development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector.
The programme will be introduced in phases, beginning in priority communities. Subject to available funding and institutional capacity, the partners hope to reach up to 500,000 young people each year.
Government officials said SYSNA would complement the Ministry’s existing “Red Means Stop” campaign, which seeks to combat the growing misuse of opioids and other harmful substances among Ghanaian youth through education, advocacy and community mobilisation.
The new agreement is intended to extend the reach of that campaign by creating a structured national platform for prevention, mentorship, counselling and youth empowerment, while also addressing the wider social and economic pressures affecting young people across Ghana.
