Church urged to support youth as Tema Methodist Diocese holds memorial lecture
A Senior Lecturer at the Methodist University Ghana, Rev. Vincent Agbemenya Adzika, has called on the church, policymakers and communities to collaborate in creating more opportunities for young people while strengthening systems that support their mental health.
Delivering the keynote address at this year’s Bannerman/Aryee/Laryea Memorial Lectures in Tema last Saturday, at the St. Paul Methodist Cathedral, Rev. Adzika highlighted the growing pressures confronting young people, particularly unemployment and its impact on their mental well-being.
The lecture, the second in a series organised by the Tema Diocesan Lay Movement Council, was held on the theme: “Equipped for Every Good Work: Navigating the Nexus between Youth Unemployment and Mental Well-being in the Tema Diocese of the Methodist Church, Ghana.”
Rev. Adzika explained that although Tema was initially developed as an industrial hub to generate employment, youth unemployment remains a major challenge.
Citing national statistics, he said Ghana’s unemployment rate stood at about 13.3 per cent at the end of 2025, with young people disproportionately affected.
“Unemployment is not just an economic issue; it also affects the mental health and spiritual vitality of our youth. Jobless individuals face higher risks of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem,” he said.
According to him, surveys conducted within the Tema Diocese of the church indicated that limited job opportunities, inadequate guidance from elders, lack of confidence and difficulties navigating the labour market, even with academic qualifications, contributed to the problem.
He urged the church to take a more proactive role in equipping young people with practical skills, mentorship, and strong support systems to help them transition into employment.
“The church must recognise and nurture the talents of our youth. Spiritual development and employment go hand in hand,” he added.
Background
The Bannerman/Aryee/Laryea Lectures were established in 2025 to honour three pioneers whose leadership helped shape Methodism in the Tema Diocese: Joseph Yedu Bannerman, who served as Industrial Minister; Seth Aryee, the first Chairman and Bishop of the Tema Diocese, and Emmanuel Nii Laryea, the first Lay Chairman.
A former Bishop of the Tema Diocese, Rt. Rev. Thomas Brown Forson, who chaired the function, said effective church leadership rests on the “four Cs”: calling, competence, confidence and character, qualities clearly reflected in Ernest Fianko Odame-Adams’s life and service.
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