NewzThe Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Abdulai Ayariga, has officially launched the 2026 National Youth Month Celebration with a strong call on young Ghanaians to embrace integrity, discipline and patriotism as the country navigates the opportunities and challenges of the digital age. Speaking at the launch in Accra, Mr Ayariga said this year’s celebration, under the theme “Rebuilding Values, Inspiring Patriotism: Empowering the Youth in the Digital Age,” seeks to ensure that technological advancement is matched by strong moral values and responsible citizenship. He described Ghana’s youth as the country’s most strategic asset whose development must remain a national priority.
He observed that while digitalisation has created unprecedented opportunities for innovation, learning and entrepreneurship, it has also fuelled challenges including misinformation, cyber insecurity, indiscipline and substance misuse. According to him, these realities make it imperative to rebuild the values that have historically united the nation. “Innovation without integrity cannot build a resilient nation.
Knowledge without discipline cannot sustain development. Talent without patriotism cannot transform a society,” Mr Ayariga stated. He further urged young people to “embody integrity, discipline, civic responsibility, mutual respect, and love of country,” stressing that the NYA’s mandate extends beyond job creation to nurturing ethical leaders and responsible digital citizens.
He encouraged all stakeholders, including development partners, traditional leaders, faith-based organisations, parents and the media, to actively support the month-long activities, saying Ghana’s future would ultimately be determined not by technology alone but by the values, discipline and patriotism of its young people. Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, Osman Abdulai Ayariga, says Ghana’s hosting of major international youth platforms during the 2026 National Youth Month demonstrates the country’s growing leadership in youth development, democratic engagement and continental cooperation. Speaking at the launch of the celebration, Mr Ayariga said the international engagements would provide Ghanaian youth with opportunities to interact with policymakers, innovators and young leaders from across Africa, Japan and other partner countries while expanding their exposure to global development opportunities.
He announced that Ghana would host the TICAD Youth Drive under the theme “Youth Agenda 2055: From Vision to Action,” as well as the first in-person edition of the Pan-African Youth Parliament for Democracy. According to him, the events would strengthen civic dialogue, democratic participation and youth leadership across the continent. “These international engagements further affirm Ghana’s leadership role in youth development and democratic engagement in Africa,” he said.
Mr Ayariga added that the initiatives would “broaden the horizon of our young people, deepen their exposure, and connect their energy and ideas to regional and global opportunities.” He expressed optimism that the international platforms, together with the national calendar of activities, would inspire a new generation of patriotic, innovative and responsible young leaders capable of driving Ghana’s transformation in the digital age. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Dr Sennen Hounton, has pledged to promote UNFPA Ghana’s youth development programme, popularly known as Youth Leaders Fellowship Programme (YoLe), across Africa. He described the programme as a unique model that could inspire similar initiatives in other countries.
Summary from source