Youth Development Strategies

 Community Development Initiative.


The state of a certained society, feeling no doubts, been confident, helpful, absolute encouragements and provision of special opportunities for a disadvantage group to make or become different in Culture, Economic, Social, and Spiritual, in their fields of endeavors is the quest of every well-meaning persons living in their respective

Community yearns to see and feel.

Fostering Growth and Sustainable Development can be thought of, as responsible development that meets today’s needs without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet the needs of tomorrow. Central to the idea of Sustainable Development is that, the urgent survival needs for the worlds poor should be the first priority , while keeping in mind that there are limitations, if future environmental consequences that need to be balanced in order to adequately plan for sustainable development, we first need to see the world as a system which connects both space and time.

Initiating a project to create Positive Change in my Environment thereby fostering Sustainable Development in my community has always been my topmost priority as an aspiring Social Entrepreneur and a Community Organizer, been a Social Entrepreneur needs that one possess the requisite innovations, and passion to provide solutions to society’s most pressing problems by persistently tacking major social issues and offering new ideas for wide scale change, rather than leaving societal needs to the government or business sectors.

Fostering Positive and Sustainable Development needs practical addressing of social problems by changing the system, spreading the solutions and persuading the entire societies to take new leap.
The high sense of Volunteerism is my hallmark, which I consider a very cardinal tool for me to be a mass recruiter of my peers local change makers, and also set standards by living an exemplary life, so as to become a role model, providing that citizens who channel their passions into action can do almost anything.

However, positive change and sustainable development cannot be realized without relative Peace,
The greatest threat that the human race has ever faced still remains to live in a world free of the threat of violence. Violence is not restricted to the times of war. It exists everywhere, in homes, schools and communities, where there is injustice there is conflict.


Conflict is generally classified in terms of both violent and non-violent conflict. violent conflict is generally associated with the use of force as a means to an end, while non-violent conflict usually involves peaceful negotiations between conflicting groups in order to work towards a compatible goal or resolution, over time non-violent conflicts can erupt into direct force if a reasonable compromise is not reached, this is a menace bedeviling my community among my contemporaries.

 This I wish to address by collaborating with opinion leaders and all stakeholders to set up a Youth-friendly-Service center (Career Resource Center) stocked with all the necessary tools where youth would be trained in productive entrepreneurial skills so as to unearth their hidden talent, and also enhance their capacity through the culture of reading, research and opportunity search from the resources available. This in effect will curb unemployment and harsh economic predicaments facing the youth and the entire community.

Much of the violence in my society stems from an oppressive social system of power that reinforces differences between conflicting groups and allows one group to have power or privilege over another group. I will also work directly with other grass root communities to counter conflict with preventive strategies through massive Educational campaigns as well as support services for those recovering from violence. This I believe would be responsible, thus creating an enabling environment in promotion of the culture of Peace, Justice, Good Governance and resolve differences without resorting to conflict.

Furthermore, I believe that moral decadence has contributed to our societal problems, and the only way to come out of this canker is by upholding tight our cultural values by adhering to our traditional customs and norms which encompasses Intellectual, Spiritual, Literature, lifestyle and moral values, which is undoubtedly a unifying force.

 To this end I would establish Dancing and Musical troupe in my community, mobilize the youth to perform regularly at the community ceremonies, to promote our dance, music, fashion, to the outside world and also bring us some income to sustain our livelihood, this will also change our social behavior thus saving us from Cultural imperialism which have a negative influence on us. Sustainable living will protect resources and help us live and enjoy life for the future generation.

Summarily, positive environment goes hand-in-hand with human rights and economic justice, a culture of peace and sustainable development cannot be built without an understanding of how deeply all of these issues are interwoven.

Role of Science in Building a Better World

 Role of Science in Building a Better World

Case Study for Africa :


Global change is creating enormous challenges for humanity. The world's population is expected to grow from nearly 6 billion today to 8.5 billion by the year 2025. Global energy requirements will continue to increase. The newly industrialized countries of Asia and Latin America are experiencing very rapid economic growth that is bringing modern society's environmental problems, including air and water pollution and waste problems, to wider areas of the globe.

The ecological problems caused by human economic activity are worsening and taking on global dimensions. Climate change, ozone-layer depletion, and loss of forest cover are important examples. At the same time, social conditions continue to worsen in many developing countries. It is estimated that more than 1 billion people now live in poverty without sufficient food, adequate educational opportunities, or any possibility of political participation.

Although financial and economic markets are becoming more and more interconnected and we like to think in terms of a global village efforts to enshrine environmental protection and development as the common task and responsibility of all countries have just begun to make headway.

The key aim for the 21st century is sustainable development through modern science, which the international community embraced at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development. Sustainable development seeks to reconcile environmental protection and development; it means nothing more than using resources no faster than they can regenerate themselves, and releasing pollutants to no greater extent than natural resources can assimilate them.

If we are to move toward sustainable development, the industrialized countries will have to accept special responsibility not only because of their past ecological sins, but also because of their present technological know-how and financial resources. Nonetheless, one must keep in mind that sustainable production and consumption involve not merely technical progress, but also cultural patterns of individual behavior and values comes to bear in this process.

The key is to serve the traditional link between economic growth and the consumption of resources, which increasingly threatens the natural basis for life and the preservation of natural and landscape diversity.

There are several possible ways to achieve environmental compatibility in lifestyles and economies. Technical and scientific innovations provide excellent prospects for environmental protection. Contemporary in this 21st  century, industrial society is becoming a knowledge-based society. It is vital that we use our growing knowledge and capabilities responsibly, and that we use them in the interest of environmentally appropriate development. Science must play an important role in the pursuit of sustainable development.

The kind of science and technology needed for realizing a more equitable, prosperous and sustainable world for all, I believe is energy and its humane usage by global population, the key technologies of sustainable development include new energy and propulsion technologies that will help reduce emissions of climate-damaging greenhouse gases.

Simply to stabilize atmospheric greenhouse-gas concentrations at twice their postindustrial levels, the world will also have to reduce current global greenhouse emissions by over 50%.. Achieving this goal involves focusing on improved thermal insulation in buildings, on the use of heat/power co-generation, and on efficient support for the use of renewable energies.

Currently the most progress is found in the area of wind energy; in the medium term, the use of solar energy, with photo-voltaic technology, will continue to grow in significance. An honest consideration of our options indicates that we cannot afford to discontinue peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Finally, my vision for the future of science are enormous but cardinal among them is that of a Biotechnology, biotechnology I believe would bring important advances in medical diagnosis and therapy, in solving food problems, in energy saving, in environmentally compatible industrial and agricultural production, and in specially targeted environmental protection projects.

Genetically altered microorganisms can break down a wide range of pollutants by being used, for example, in bio-filters and waste water-treatment facilities, and in the clean-up of polluted sites. Genetically modified organisms can also alleviate environmental burdens by reducing the need for pesticides, fertilizers, and medications.

Indeed I would also conduct a research and in-depth studies on the sustainability of this area of science, as strategic aim, involves optimizing the interactions between nature, society, and the economy, in accordance with ecological criteria.

However, political leaders and scientists alike face the challenge of recognizing inter-relationships and interactions between ecological, economic, and social factors and taking account of these factors when seeking solution strategies.

In conclusion, to meet this challenge, decision-makers require inter-disciplinary approaches and strategies that cut across political lines. Environmental science discussions must become more objective, and this must include, especially, debates about the risks of new technologies, which are often ideologically charged. In light of the complex issues involved in sustainable development, we need clearer standards for orienting and assessing our environmental policies. In this context I consider the current work on indicator models as a means to assess and monitor the success of sustainability strategies, to be of great importance for positive advancements of societies and humanity .

Fraud "Kalabule" in Senior High School Placement in Ghana.

Kalabule "Fraud" in Senior High School Placement in Ghana.

It is very repulsive to note how Ghanaian parents and prospective senior high school SHS hopefuls/candidates suffer irresponsible technological/ institutional failure and gross incompetence of our educational officers, this appalling blight in the recent years so called computerized placement system into SHS, in this day and age that every child especially girls are encouraged to go to school in order to curb street-ism, and other social vice alike and to produce inventive and industrious human resource to salvage our ailing economy.

 It is however sad to note that Ghana is reneging on this principles and responsibilities, to this end fundamental right to education of children is trample, usurpers and unscrupulous personage have taken advantage of the system failure and have coronet themselves as SHS placement agents and are extorting scarce monies from gullible and desperate candidates and their parents on the pretext of securing them admission into SHS, it is really sad to see how parents and their wards mostly girls get frustrated and humiliated at the various offices of the GES around the country.

In a nutshell , our system is very unjust and unfair to the larger population government institutional staff are reneging on duties they are mandated to do by the constitution, that has made our system so putrid in such a way that one has to know a big man some where before you succeed in your endeavor, our fundamental rights don’t matter any longer, the earlier this shame is remedy the better because this precedence is nurturing the ground for aggressive public anger and resistance any time some if the right things are not done

In my case through some so called big man I know i succeeded in attaining an admission for my kid sister, though am quiet relief with that, I remain concern and sympathetic to many who do not have my kind of connection or know any big man in any set up, meanwhile education is an inalienable fundamental basic right of every citizen (child) especially girls of every civilized country which Ghana is not exclusive, indeed SHS is the twilight of every Child career so far as education is concern not even to talk of a quality one.

I think is about time our institution resurrect from COMA and commence effective work in the interest of the citizenry, I urge the Ghana education service, west African examination council, ministry of education, youth, social welfare and women’s and children’s affairs, to give a second thought to the reckless technological failure (Computerize Placement System) and live up to their constitutional duties in offering reasonable and responsible service to the tax paying public, which I believe is prerequisite to nation building as well as achieving the Millennium Development Goals

Millennium Development Goals "MDG's" Progress in Afrika

Development Jamboree in Ghana.

The quest for Africa to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), I believe is the dream of every well meaning African, especially those of the South of the Sahara (Black Africa), indeed an end to Genetically Induced Poverty, Chronic Corruption, an end to preventable Diseases, famine, Starvation, an end to Child and Maternal mortality, an end to gruesome domestic violence against women, active participation of women in decision making , an end to deliberate environmental degradation, an end to a Senseless wars , conflicts, dehumanization and indeed continental and global harmony among nations, in Africa and beyond is indeed a welcome development, which we all yearn for as well meaning people .

 At the Millennium Summit in September 2000, leaders of all United Nations member states (Heads of States) agreed on a set of eight (8) goals with a target year date of 2015 to guide global development in the 21st century. What have become known as the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals, or MDGs, include: halving extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education and gender equity, reducing under-five mortality and maternal mortality by two-thirds and three-quarters respectively, reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS, halving the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and ensuring environmental sustainability.

Unfortunately, after this humble declaration, Africa has resort to achieve the MDGs, through series of Conferencing, Workshops, Talk-shop Chop-shops etc, indeed so far Africa, has the best of Theoretical Action Plans on beautiful papers, geared towards achieving the MDGs, however lacks the Practical Actions Plan (Field World). In other wards I believe that very few African countries are attempting to do better than majority of their peers, not even to talk of the Maghreb, in the North of Africa, they are quiet better off with their Oil wealth. It is indeed frustrating to the extent that in Addis Ababa, 3 April 2007: A Sudanese economist participating in the Economic Commission for Africa's Conference of Ministers, Dr. Wani Tombe Lako , said in Addis Ababa on Friday that at the current pace, it was unrealistic for African countries to imagine that they could achieve the MDGs, "even in 100 years".

Initially I thought he was pessimistic but considering the current trend in government, civil society and the so-called youth front, I am convince to agree charitably with him, In an interview with the Information and Communication Service of ECA, Dr. Lako said that poverty and hunger in Africa might double by 2015 and that until "we change people's thinking; the thinking of ministers and decision makers, nothing will progress". He said most African countries had not made progress in gender equality and women's empowerment, and that Africans were still living "in an ocean of poverty" "Social transformation and attitudinal change take a long time," said Dr. Lako, adding that it took Europe over 1000 years to influence European thinking and to be where they are now".

He called for a redefinition of Africa's indicators of growth. "We should be modest and define our growth based on what happens to human person in Africa and to human development index like primary education, child mortality. Conversion to money should be secondary," he said. He said while conferences were good for budgets, employing more staff and increasing income, they were not good for human development. He called on African countries to put more premiums on identifying the causes of rural poverty rather than talking about Growth Domestic Product (GDP).

‘We talk of water and sanitation problem in our continent while we only use four per cent of our water due to inappropriate allocation of contracts to dubious firms, corruption and selfishness," he said Our bane as Africans is from the top leadership and down to the citizenry,

I have always insisted that is attitudinal, and not until we change our attitude we can never change what we are doing, Ghanaians have talked so much on the MDGs, organizing colorful meetings, seminars, and talk-shows, without placing much emphasis on the Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRSPs) which is the practical framework geared towards achieving the so-called MDGs.

 I think that there must be political will from the political leaders of our land with practical and technical approach to development with greater attention to the grass-roots, and also a serious commitment from youth groups, NGOs, and the CSOs, the earlier we collectively start doing something in our humble corners the better, we are all guilty and to be blamed should we failed to achieve the MDGs which in all honesty without any prejudice whatsoever, am quiet pessimistic of.

One of the solutions is to do away with the series of unnecessary conferencing in the name of MDGs, though I agree that we need brainstorm so as to arrive at a consensus, build a road map towards development, but then the talking has been long overdue.

 Personally, I have vow to attend any so-called workshop or conference on MDGs, because my conscience does not allow me to engage in this unrealistic developments, we seems to be deceiving ourselves here, and we are also contributing in looting the limited state resources by attending this charade. At these meeting we talk big, eat and drink big, receive big applause's for making sugared inputs.

I believe that the funds wasted on Accommodation, Feeding, Transport reimbursement for both Resource persons and Participants during these meetings can be used to buy School uniforms, Bags, Pair of shoes, for thousand of destitute children in the deprived rural communities in an effort to creating an enabling environment/conditions for them to enroll in school, since capital grant seems to be working now, all around Africa, when this is done I believe would partly go along way to achieve Goal 2 of the MDGs, this is practical and workable, and is quiet easy to be done, also why can’t we buy farming tools and equipment's for our poor farmers in the villages, to boost their harvest, to partly achieve goal 1,this action when continued would make a headway in our efforts to achieve the MDGs, which I can consider to be a dream.

Am not being simplistic on this assumptions in anyway, but then I see reality in doing so. After all these meetings, it ends there, the only thing that comes up is developing of Memorandum, and Communiqués, 100s of which is lying on the shelves, of various the Ministries ,Agencies and Department (MDAs) gathering dust, the Briton Woods Institutions (the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund’s) must seize funding project in Africa which has no practical developmental impact to the people.

This is really a test of time to African government and citizens to prove their lots, nobody would come and do it for us, for once we should also do our own thing and be proud of it, we are all involved, President, Emperor, Carpenter ,Mason, Architect, Farmer, House wives, Youth, Women ,Children, Physically challenged , all and sundry must contribute in their small good way for the betterment of Africa. We have exhausted the paper work a lot; let’s start the practical action now.

Posterity would never pardon us should we fail in this cause of renaissance, and we would be highly indebted to coming generations.

Youth Rights and Participation

Youth Participation in Civic Engagements.

Young people can be a powerful force for change as future reformers; young people (15-35) have innovative ideas on how to solve the political, economic, and social problems facing their countries. However, they often lack the voice to bring these ideas to policymakers. Simply, young people are often regarded as recipients of reforms, not active participants in the reform process. I would like to place emphasis on some key areas where young people must be given the equal opportunity to be active in these developmental areas and processes.

First of all, Citizenship and positive values in a Democratic Society, What needs to be done to develop a sense of citizenship in young people and help them realize their role in a democratic society,True reform occurs only when citizens actively participate in the governance process, it can’t be achieved by street protests alone. Young people are an integral part of society and their input and participation in their countries governance is necessary to effect political and economic reform.

However, many lack the skills and opportunity to communicate with policymakers and get involved in their country’s development. Youth are often disengaged from the political process and rarely develop the sense of citizenship that is so crucial to building an inclusive, participatory democracy.

To become active citizens in their countries, young people must be bequeathing with the requisite skills to develop their ideas on reform and outlets to express those ideas in a constructive manner.Again, Educational Reform and Employment Opportunities,In many African countries , the youth unemployment rate is very high. In some countries, this is caused by a lack of jobs; Ghana is not exclusive in this situation, though some progress has been chalked in youth employment programmes.

However, in many others, young people entering the workforce are not prepared for the jobs available they lack the necessary skills and education. Unable to find good jobs, they face a difficult choice, remain unemployed or accept low-paying jobs with no opportunity for advancement. Improving the educational systems of many countries is a key step towards creating a generation of young people who possess the skills and knowledge to participate in the economy, locally and globally.

Finally, Entrepreneurship and Leadership,Young people can play a positive role in the political and economic spheres in their countries, on both local and national levels, in Ghana for instance there are many promising young people who at the helm of affairs in major political parties and other organizational settings, some even have gone far in the process of traditional governance, being custodians of their communities, crown as chiefs and queen mother’s etc.

Unfortunately however some also often lack access to the resources and groups that would help them get involved and have an impact. Therefore, when provided with the opportunity and skills to become influential members of their communities, youth can accomplish their goals.

Guided by the vision, hopes and aspirations of the African Union, the African youth charter is inclusive of Africa’s integration, the inherent dignity and inalienable rights afforded to members of the human family as set out in the United Nations Universal Declaration of human rights.

The charter recognizes that youths are partners, assets and a prerequisite for sustainable development, and that they are of strategic importance for the peace and prosperity of the African continent, with a unique contribution to make for present and future development, this is indeed laudable.

Furthermore, I will want to dwell much on youth unemployment as it has become very obvious that unemployment is the major constraint and worry of many young people in Africa and of course my beloved country Ghana, unemployment is still very high, In Ghana, the Government has taken a sect oral approach to the problem, a National Youth Employment Program is ongoing that aims to actively engage youth in productive employment where they are needed as health extension workers, waste and sanitation workers, teachers, and as paid interns in industry.

Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in the 1999 GLSS the proportion of the economically active population who are not working but are available for work (GSS, 2000).

Insufficient data on youth unemployment in Ghana Official statistics show unemployment rate of less than 10% (5.4% in 2003) Official statistics show underemployment is relatively high (13.6%).Majority of the unemployed population fall in the 15-29 age brackets. High unemployment among the youth is an indication of the under-utilization of human capital resources in Ghana.

Unemployment is an indication of the excess supply of labor over demand The agricultural sector remains unattractive to the youth, even though our economy is structurally agrarian; the sector employs nearly half of all employed persons Skills mismatches, The Education system continues to produce graduates whose training and aspirations do not match the requirements of modern industry.

Attempts to promote the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises to absorb labor have not yielded the desired results due to several factors, including high interest rate, weak and unreliable infrastructure and social amenities. Employers find it difficult to employ young person’s even on temporal basis because of the lack of labor market experience.

The youth find it very difficult to get their first jobs. Many of them get disillusion and stop looking for a job. Youth are the last employed, but first dismissed, sometimes without any tangible reason.
The employ-ability question, some youth are just not employable.

A very important factor contributing to the unemployment among the youth is the high rate of growth of the youth population, resulting in rural urban drift. It is estimated that about 250,000 young women and men enter the job market every year.

The formal sector is able to employ less than 5000 (2%). Thus, close to 98% survive in the informal sector or remain unemployed, this I believe is not far fetched from the situations in other African countries.

In a nutshell, the impact of youth participation on Africa’s economic growth cannot be written off, young people in most African countries, especially in Ghana are actively engaged in civic engagements such as NGOs, civil society, entrepreneur activities among others, on the other hand some young people too fall prey due to hardship and turn to be irresponsible, turn to reckless lifestyles, imitates negative foreign culture, such as ear perching, bleeding, reckless dressing etc, which has an inimical effects on our cultural heritage conservation.

Youth and the future generations, so far contribution of youth to the future of Africa is a very laudable which is worthy of emulation, many young people plays key roles in conflict prevention and resolution, but again much need by young people should they be given the requisite capacity, to compliment government efforts and indeed ease burdens on governments.

Creative potentials of young people in Ghana, are in areas such as in music, hence serves as , exponents of African, cultural heritage conservationists( folklore's, history, ecological endowments), arts such as paintings, sculpture, filming, writing and cultural dancing are also in serious practices by many young people in Africa especially in Ghana, many of who serves as ambassadors of their respective countries on international platforms.

Indeed, the creativity of the African youth cannot be sealed without the mention of sports, which I consider as very important exponents of African pride, as many young Africans have distinguished themselves and brought honor to their countries in sports disciplines such as athletics, football/soccer, and boxing among others. Many youth too are creative in writing poems, novels and African literature, all this in effect preserve our heritage and promotes our potentials to the outside world.

Despite all these successes by few among many, yet still good number of youth in Africa faces specific challenges in the areas of education, employment, migration, entrepreneurship, ICT, health, environmental and sustainable livelihood. To address these issues African governments must prioritize youth policy making or forgo the chance of meeting development goals.

Until recently policymakers rarely included youth in the decision making process or even consulted with them on their concerns. Cultural attitudes have been a major stumbling block to establishing inter-generational dialogue; this however is not just in Africa only but also globally.

Traditionally, wisdom was seen as increasing function of age and subsequently, adult leaders and policymakers took it upon themselves to make decisions on behalf of youth. But such policy-making largely resulted in inappropriate policies that failed to address the requisite needs and aspirations of youth having incidentally proven their ability to take leadership in the area of economic development acting as agents of change; this traditional attitude requires urgent modification.

Summarily, Justifying youth participation: It would appear to the onlooker that the case for including youth in policy-making is compelling. Nonetheless, it has been necessary to argue why economic decision making should be both inclusive and youth focused. For example the UNFPA, s report (The case for investing in young people as part of a national poverty reduction strategy), offers a number of arguments, on which I would also like to elaborate further.

1- Equitable distribution of resources – young people make up a large of the population and the poor, therefore it is prudent they receive their fair share national booty.

2- Achieving the MDGs – five goals explicitly refers to young people in terms of health, combating HIV/AIDS and other diseases and developing decent employment opportunities for young people.

3- Economic benefits – by investing in education and health, governments can increase productivity and economic growth in the benefit of the youth and the general population

4 – Youth poverty requires special attention – young people experience particular vulnerabilities that make them prone to suffering from unemployment , thereby causing rural urban drift with those in the rural areas to the city with the aim of securing job, white color, which are non existing, and with those already in the city also maneuver their way outside the country to a foreign country mostly Europe and America for greener pasture, hence causing brain drain with those with specialized skills.

5 - Long term benefits and Sustainability – through investing in young people, it so possible to embark on the demographic transition by lowering population growth and by improving the situation of youth, which can decrease the chance that they will later become involved in criminal activity and civil conflict.

In conclusion, youth participation in major development strategies such as PRSPs, MDGs, NEPAD APRM, among others is a development which must be encouraged by all.

New initiatives now dominates the development agenda on the continent including Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs), the quest to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) which seeks to ensure accountability, transparency and promote good governance among African governments. These approaches are a departure from the past with a shift to a focus on pro-poor policies, participatory and consultative processes and ownership by countries.

Though youth often figure prominently on paper, their involvements in any of these initiatives has usually been limited.Young people in Africa have enormous potentials that could be harnessed for promoting economic development on the continent. African governments and international partners, therefore, need to focus policy initiatives and resources on improving the leadership role of African youth.

From the above, it is imperative that the African youth charter be ratified to give a positive backing
To the implementation of youth policies in all African states for the betterment of our continent and the world as a whole.