Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Bawumia has promised to do more to nurture and maximize the potential of the country’s young if elected President.

He has, as a result, emphasized the government’s commitment to listening to the concerns and ideas of youth in order to empower them to explore the digital revolution, with a pledge to train one million kids in digital skills throughout his administration.

Speaking at the third edition of the National Youth Conference yesterday at the Pentecost Convention Centre in Gomoa-Fetteh, he urged Ghana’s youth to believe in themselves and take advantage of the Akufo-Addo government’s digital infrastructure initiatives to advance in life.

The conference took place on August 12, which is International Youth Day. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of youth issues and concerns worldwide, promote equitable engagement, and ensure that the voices of young people are heard.

Youth organizations, students, politicians, researchers, traditional leaders, and diplomats came together at the gathering to talk about how to use digital tools to empower young people.

“From Clicks to Process: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development” was the theme of the event.

According to Dr. Bawumia, the government will keep giving young people chances to advance into the fourth industrial revolution and become future digital pioneers.

In order to develop creative solutions for both local and global problems, he urged the youth to keep pushing and questioning the current quo rather than resting on their laurels.

In addition, he outlined other government efforts that the youth should take advantage of, such as the medical drone delivery system, mobile money interoperability, national identification system (Ghana Card), and digital property address system.

Also, the Vice President listed enhanced internet connectivity, One Teacher, One Laptop, and One Student, One Tablet as some of the government’s initiatives to support youth

empowerment.

Dr. Bawumia also reported that the introduction of the mobile money interoperability payment system had increased transactions from GH¢78 billion to GH¢1.9 trillion and that 540,000 flights had been made by medical drones to deliver vital medications and blood products to hard-to-reach areas.

In order to guarantee drone delivery services throughout the 16 areas, Dr. Bawumia stated that his government would build two more drone centers in Kintampo and Funsi.

Regarding security, the Vice President announced that in an effort to reduce crime nationwide, the government will buy 50,000 cameras to be installed in each district and regional capital.

Pius Enam Hadzide, the CEO of the National Youth Authority (NYA), for his part, stated that the conference gives young people a forum to participate in beneficial conversations about government policies and initiatives as well as assistance in identifying opportunities for entrepreneurship.

He listed other government programs that young people could investigate in the fields of agribusiness, entrepreneurship, and digital technology.

Charles Abani, the UN Resident Coordinator, warned Ghana’s youth to turn away from politicians and other people who try to entice them with presents and promises in order to enlist them in violent protests ahead of the December 7 election.

He cautioned them not to act as go-betweens for false and misleading material, telling them to “verify every information you receive; don’t be in a hurry to spread it.”

Mr. Abani pleaded with them to zealously defend the nation’s peace and harmony and to resist being used as pawns by anyone with ill intentions to destabilize the state.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports granted permission for the National Youth Authority to organize the National Youth Conference.

BY: APPIANIMAA MERCY