Youth bulge presents opportunities, challenges — Antwi-Danso

The youth bulge in the country presents both opportunities and challenges if not managed properly, the Director of Academic Affairs at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Professor Vladimir Antwi-Danso, has said. 

“With a large youthful population, there are numerous opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development.

“However, if youth unemployment continues to rise, it can lead to social unrest and exploitation,” he said.

Prof. Antwi-Danso said this at an advocacy forum organised by Child Research and Resource Centre (CRRECENT), an NGO, as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations in Accra.

The event, which was on the theme: "Ghana's youth bulge – An opportunity and a challenge for nation building,” discussed the increase in youth population with respect to peace, security, children, crime, advantages of youth bulge, among others. 

Dangers

Speaking to journalists after the event, Prof. Antwi-Danso highlighted the dangers of youth idleness, saying “sometimes politicians exploit the youth because majority of them are not engaged in meaningful employment”.

“You see politicians gathering them and using them as watchdogs for their political parties, or what we normally call vigilantes.

“This is precisely because they are idle, giving credence to the saying that the devil finds work for idle hands.

“If we continue to use them for criminal activities, a time will come when they will hold the country to ransom,” he said. 

Ensuring justice

The Commissioner on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Dr Joseph Whittal,  stressed the need to ensure justice for children and the youth, adding that delinquency and crime were other areas that needed attention as the country managed the youth bulge.

The Director of Research at CHRAJ, Dr Lilian Ayete-Nyampong, who spoke on "Vulnerable children and youth in conflict with the law" revealed that a significant portion of the nation’s prison population fell within the youthful age range of 12 to 35.

She lamented the lack of legal aid for juveniles in the country and the dire conditions in which many young prisoners lived.

The director highlighted the need for dedicated prison cells for juveniles and the need for improved legal representation. 

Commitment

The Executive Director of Child Research and Resource Centre, Susan Sabaa, underscored the organisation’s commitment to ensure that the youth bulge was properly managed.

“We have had the opportunity to work with children who have fallen through the cracks, gone through the criminal justice system all the way to correctional centers. It is a real uphill task to restore such people to a stable life.

“The best is to prevent the occurrence of juvenile delinquency and crime by identifying the risk factors and mitigating them with well thought out strategies.  

“We are sounding the alarm that there is danger if we do not equip young people and provide them with the opportunities they need,” she said.

The Executive Director, Ghana Legal Aid,  Edmund Foley, who moderated the programme, said issues of the youth must be given special attention.

Writer’s email:rebecca.quaicoe-duho@graphic.com.gh