Over 50% of gov’t youth promises yet to start –  Ghana Youth Manifesto Coalition

The Ghana Youth Manifesto Coalition (GYMC) and its partners have released a critical assessment of the government’s performance on youth development, revealing that while key milestones have been achieved, more than half of the promises made to the youth remain untouched in the first year of the administration.

The findings were presented at the maiden Youth Accountability Forum (YAF) held on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the Africa Trade House in Accra.

Organised in partnership with the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), OXFAM, ActionAid, YEfL, RAGeT-AFRICA and 6 other organisations, the forum brought together youth leaders, civil society organisations, and government officials under the theme, “Empowering Youth Accountability: Tracking Commitments, Shaping Tomorrow”.

“We Are The Pulse-Beating Now”

Delivering the opening remarks, Mr. Christopher Wisdom Penu, National Coordinator of the GYMC, described the forum as a historic transition from advocacy to accountability. He emphasized that with 73% of Ghana’s population under the age of 35, the youth demographic is not merely the future but the “vibrant, pulse-beating now”.

“Today marks Phase 5 of our project: Tracking and Accountable Governance. History has shown us that without rigorous tracking, manifesto promises often remain beautiful words on paper that never materialise into tangible policy outcomes,” Mr. Penu stated.

He noted that the coalition’s advocacy during the 2024 elections successfully influenced the current government to develop “The PLEDGE”—a document containing 104 specific promises to the youth—and to establish the dedicated Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment (MYDE).

Tracking the “Youth PLEDGE”: The Numbers

Presenting the technical report titled “Tracking the NDC’s Youth PLEDGE,” Mr. Solomon Okai, Senior Programmes Officer at FOSDA, provided a data-driven breakdown of the government’s performance as of November 2025.

The report assessed 104 specific promises across 10 thematic areas. The key findings revealed:

• Completed: Only 9 promises (8.7%) have been fully delivered.
• In Progress: Work has commenced on 40 promises (38.5%), showing active government engagement.
• No Evidence/Not Started: A significant 55 promises (52.9%) show no verifiable evidence of implementation.

“The Education theme recorded the highest share of progress, accounting for 5 of the 9 completed promises,” Mr. Okai highlighted. Notable achievements include the extension of Free SHS to private schools and the ‘No-Fees-Stress’ policy for first-year university students.

However, the report raised concerns regarding the “Informal Sector” and “Healthcare” themes. “Even with only two promises available, data shows there is no progress at all for youth promises in the informal sector,” the report noted.

Additionally, the tracker identified that many promises in the mining and health sectors lacked explicit references to “youth,” making it difficult to determine the direct beneficiaries.

Constructive Dialogue and Future Concerns

The forum featured an “Accountability Panel” designed to bridge the gap between promises and interventions, featuring representatives from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour, and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).

While acknowledging the “better days ahead” signaled by programs like the National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP), the report warned of potential setbacks due to the “consumptive nature” of the 2026 budget for the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment.

The report projects that, given current variables such as inflation and allocation trends, only about 35% of youth promises may be completed by 2028 if the current pace continues.

The event concluded with a call for the government to institutionalise the tracking of these commitments.

“Let us track the commitments. Let us shape tomorrow,” Mr. Penu urged in his closing charge

About the Author

Christopher Wisdom Penu, the writer is an astute leadership Coach and Trainer, the National Coordinator of Ghana Youth Manifesto Coalition, the Founding President of Royal Africa Generational Thinkers (RAGeT-AFRICA).

He’s a youth leadership enthusiast, pan Africanist and advocate, dedicating the last decade of his life in Youth advocacy and policy influencing both at the national level and the local level.  For inquiries, you can reach him at: [email protected]

 

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