The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Aseidu Nketia, has called for increased investment in Ghana’s youth, describing the country’s growing young population as a strategic asset capable of driving long-term economic growth and national development.
In a Facebook message marking World Population Day on Saturday, July 11, Aseidu Nketia said Ghana’s most valuable resource is its people, not its mineral wealth, and urged policymakers to prioritise education, skills development and employment opportunities for young people.
“This #WorldPopulationDay, one truth stands out: Ghana’s greatest natural resource is not beneath our soil; it is our people,” he wrote.
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Referring to Ghana’s projected population of 34.4 million in 2026, with about 12.6 million people aged between 15 and 35, the NDC Chairman said the country’s youthful population presents one of Africa’s greatest demographic advantages.
“With a projected population of 34.4 million in 2026 and 12.6 million young people between the ages of 15 and 35, Ghana possesses one of Africa’s greatest demographic advantages,” he stated.
He stressed that young people should not be viewed as a burden but as the country’s greatest competitive strength.
“Our youth are innovators, entrepreneurs, farmers, creators, engineers, teachers and future leaders. They are not a challenge to manage; they are Ghana’s competitive advantage,” Aseidu Nketia said.
According to him, Ghana’s future prosperity will depend on deliberate investments in quality education, digital skills training, entrepreneurship, decent employment opportunities and leadership development for the younger generation.
“The real question is not whether we have enough young people. It is whether we are investing enough in their education, digital skills, entrepreneurship, decent jobs, and leadership opportunities,” he noted.
He stressed sustained investment in the country’s youth would generate lasting economic and social benefits.
“A nation that invests in its youth invests in lasting prosperity,” he added.