Accra, Ghana — In a groundbreaking milestone for youth development and participatory governance, the Government of Ghana has officially launched the Ghana Youth Federation (GYF), a national umbrella body designed to unify all youth-led and youth-serving organizations under one cohesive platform.
The federation was inaugurated at the 2025 National Youth Conference in Accra, spearheaded by the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment in collaboration with the National Youth Authority (NYA). Backed by legal recognition under the NYA Act 2016 (Act 939), GYF is expected to play a transformative role in Ghana’s democratic and development landscape — amplifying the voices of young people in national policymaking, advocacy, and implementation of youth-related programs.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment described the Ghana Youth Federation as “a long-overdue response to the call for inclusive and structured youth participation.” He emphasized that the federation will not only serve as the apex coordinating body for youth voices in Ghana, but also as a driving force for development and social accountability across districts, regions, and at the national level.
At the helm of this newly inaugurated body is an interim leadership team, chaired by Mr. Sherif Ghali, a renowned youth development advocate and CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs (GCYE). Mr. Ghali is joined by a diverse group of youth leaders representing some of Ghana’s most influential youth networks, including the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), the National Network of Youth Groups, the Ghana Girl Guides Association, and the Ghana National Catholic Youth Council, among others.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Ghali noted that the formation of the federation marks a turning point in how young people in Ghana organize and influence national development. “This is not just another youth platform. It is a constitutionally recognized, strategically positioned, and leadership-driven federation that will work tirelessly to ensure that the energy, innovation, and ideas of young Ghanaians are channeled into meaningful national impact,” he said.
The interim leadership has been given a clear mandate: to oversee the institutionalization of the federation over the coming months. This includes facilitating the formation of district and regional chapters, engaging key government and private sector stakeholders, and organizing a national elective congress where Ghana’s first officially elected national youth leaders will be chosen.
Importantly, the Minister pledged full support from the Ministry and called on development partners, private sector actors, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, and international agencies to work collaboratively with the federation. “The government sees the Ghana Youth Federation as a national asset — a legitimate partner in the co-creation of policies, in delivering youth-led solutions, and in holding systems accountable to the needs of the next generation.”
The NYA’s acting CEO, who also addressed the conference, commended the young leaders for their vision, discipline, and sense of urgency in forming the federation. He reaffirmed the NYA’s commitment to provide both technical and logistical support throughout the federation’s transitional period.
Observers have hailed the launch as a significant step toward fulfilling Ghana’s obligations under international frameworks such as the African Youth Charter, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the AU’s Agenda 2063, all of which call for greater youth inclusion and representation in national governance.
With this launch, Ghana joins a growing list of countries across Africa that are formalizing youth representation structures to improve engagement, coordination, and accountability. As the federation begins its work, expectations are high that it will serve not only as a national voice for the youth but as a credible and powerful development partner — bringing young people from the periphery to the center of national progress.
As the Ghana Youth Federation takes root, its success will depend on collective leadership, strategic partnerships, and the active involvement of Ghanaian youth at all levels. The journey has just begun, but the foundation has been boldly laid.