African Youth Take Center Stage At Yale Model African Union Conference In Accra

Young leaders from across Africa and the diaspora took centre stage at the fifth edition of the Yale Model African Union Conference (YMAU), which concluded in Accra after three days of dialogue, innovation, and collaboration.

Held from March 13 to 15, 2026, under the theme “Imagine, Challenge & Build the Africa We Want,” the conference brought together more than 300 delegates, policymakers, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs to mark five years of promoting youth leadership and policy engagement on the continent.

The programme featured African Union committee simulations, leadership workshops, the Mandate-to-Market Innovation Pitch Contest, and a University and Career Fair. A major highlight was a panel discussion titled “Designing the Future: Creativity at the Intersection of Policy and Enterprise,” which examined how innovation and policy design can drive sustainable development.

Among the speakers was Dennis Sampong, Country Director of Fludor Ghana. Drawing on his experience in Ghana’s agricultural sector, he underscored the need to integrate young people into the cocoa value chain and strengthen private sector involvement in policymaking.

“The future of Africa is the youth. If you look at Ghana, more than 60 per cent of the population are under the age of 35. Anything we’re doing now is going to be the youth’s future,” he said, urging young Africans to take ownership of the continent’s development.

Mr. Sampong also raised concerns about the ageing workforce in Ghana’s cocoa sector, noting that the average farmer is between 55 and 60 years old. He stressed the importance of attracting young people into agriculture through innovation and modern farming techniques.

“If our farmers used to use cutlasses and hoes to cultivate cocoa, what other technologies can we bring in? As part of our training programmes, we encourage young people to go into cocoa and adopt modern methods,” he added.

He was joined on the panel by Audrey S-Darko, Jide Pratt, and moderator Ericka K. Tenta. Discussions centred on strengthening collaboration between policymakers, entrepreneurs, and private sector actors to translate policy ideas into practical, scalable solutions.

The conference also featured keynote addresses from Tara Squire and Kabral Blay-Amihere. Other notable speakers included George Opare Addo, Rosemary Mbabzi, and Festus Kofi Aubyn.

Participation by Fludor Ghana formed part of the broader involvement of TGI Group as a sponsor and exhibitor at the career fair, reaffirming its commitment to youth empowerment initiatives across Africa.

The 2026 YMAU conference reinforced the critical role of young Africans in shaping the continent’s future, with stakeholders calling for stronger partnerships and innovative solutions to drive inclusive growth and development.

 

 

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