Youth Academy calls for completion of abandoned projects

The Ghana Youth Leadership Academy (GYLA) has expressed concern about the alarming state of abandoned public infrastructural projects across the country.

It called on stakeholders to take responsibility and ensure that the numerous abandoned projects were completed, and further demanded accountability for the projects left to rot.

A fellow of GYLA 2024 Cohort, Dorcas Antwi, highlighted the devastating impact of the abandoned projects on communities, citing unfinished schools, health centres, roads, and markets that had been left to decay.

Some of these unfinished projects included a 12-unit classroom block at Lashibi TMA School, Sunyani Kotokrom Road and Odumase Road, Jaman South E-Block Project, Krofrom Market, Yendi Water Project and a lot more.

Ms Antwi stated that the core objective of GYLA was to nurture leaders who were passionate about driving sustainable development in their communities.

“Through our social advocacy projects, we engage young leaders in tackling pressing national issues, including the critical challenge of abandoned infrastructure projects”, She said.

Call

Ms Antwi has, therefore, called on the government to fulfil its promises to the people, complete those projects and restore hope to the communities. They also urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to prioritise the needs of the people over political expediency, and ensure that every penny from taxpayers was spent on infrastructure that served the public good.

She urged traditional and religious leaders to use their influence to advocate the completion of the projects, while also urging the media to keep the issue in the public eye.

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She charged non- governmental organisations and Civil Society Organisations to join the fight, and amplify the voices of those affected and push for change.
She also encouraged the youth to be the changemakers the nation needed, get involved, speak out and hold those in power accountable.

Training

The Project Manager of GYLA, Adel E.S. Acquah, said the academy trained 40 leaders from various backgrounds annually, including student unions, advocacy groups, and political parties.

“This year, the participants have embarked on a unified project to advocate the completion of abandoned infrastructure projects, which have been left to decay, causing socio-economic hardships for communities,” she added.

Ms Acquah announced that the Previous GYLA groups had implemented projects such as leadership training for junior high school students, promoting youth involvement in farming, and advocating policy changes such as increasing the National Service Allowance which had been done.

Another fellow of GYLA, Prince Yeboah, said the Ghana Youth Leadership Academy was calling for action against individuals and assemblies responsible for abandoned infrastructure projects in Ghana.

He said that despite the Auditor-General’s recommendations for punitive measures, little had  been done. Therefore, GYLA, together with the Ministry of Local Government will address this issue and ensure accountability, as the Ministry has oversight responsibility for the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.