Month of August Celebration to Ignite Youth Potential
The National Youth Authority (NYA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, launched the 2025 National Youth Festival on August 1, themed “Igniting Potential, Inspiring Change.” Held at the Ministry’s conference room in Accra, the event marks a month-long celebration to empower Ghana’s youth, per the NYA’s official statement.
NYA CEO Osman Ayariga Esq. called the theme a call to action, emphasizing youth as drivers of national development. The festival, running through August 30, includes a Youth Dialogue with Religious Leaders at the Central Mosque and Empowerment Youth Center, a nationwide clean-up from August 10–12, and a National Youth Conference culminating on August 16.
Minister George Opare Addo declared August a month to amplify youth voices, beyond International Youth Day on August 12. Key events include a “Red Means Stop” Health Walk against substance abuse on August 20, a Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue, and a Climate Action Conference on August 25, addressing environmental challenges impacting youth.
The festival concludes with a National Youth Carnival on August 29–30, where President Mahama will engage with youth, reinforcing their role in his reset agenda. Addo urged stakeholders to mentor and invest in young Ghanaians, highlighting their creativity and potential as active shapers of the national agenda.
The annual festival, now in its fifth year, aims to mobilize over 500,000 youth across NYA’s regional directorates for community impact. Ayariga stressed sustainable development, with events like the clean-up and climate conference targeting pressing issues like illegal drug use and environmental degradation.