AAG Youth Movements Celebrate International Youth Day with Dialogues and Action on SDGs

ActionAid Ghana’s youth movements, the Young Urban Women’s Movement (YUWM) and Activista Ghana, celebrated International Youth Day with activities across the country to highlight the importance of youth leadership in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Youth aged 15–24 make up 16% of the global population, over 1.2 billion people. In Ghana, youth constitute 38%, making their involvement crucial for meeting the SDGs by 2030.

In Accra, YUWM and Activista Ghana hosted a dialogue titled “Local Youth Actions for SDGs and Beyond: Young People Leading Change.” Young leaders, activists, development partners, and community representatives came together to discuss strategies for addressing climate action (SDG 13), gender equality (SDG 5), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and inclusive governance (SDG 16).

In the Bono Region, the AAG-Bono Regional Programme, together with YUWM and Activista, held the Bono Youth Summit. This summit focused on youth leadership and the role of technology in promoting climate justice. With climate change set to push 132 million more people into poverty by 2030, equipping youth with digital skills and advocacy tools is essential.

In the Northern Region, AAG Tamale led campaigns themed “Empowering Youth for SDGs and Social Justice.” Through advocacy training and grassroots engagement, we are enabling youth to address issues such as quality education (SDG 4), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), and sustainable communities (SDG 11).

In the Upper West Region, the celebrations included a march in Tamale led by Activista Ghana and YUWM, along with a radio discussion on ActionAid Ghana’s 35 years history. Panelist, majority of whom included the member of various youth movement group and beneficiaries shared key impacts from their communities. They also highlighted interventions which targeted young people for sustainable development. 

“Young people are rights-holders and leaders. Our voices and actions are essential for Ghana’s development and the SDG agenda,” said a representative of the Young Urban Women’s Movement.

ActionAid Ghana has invested in youth empowerment for over 30 years through training and community mobilization. This work has empowered hundreds of young people to challenge inequalities and drive initiatives that support the SDGs.

“Youth are not the leaders of tomorrow, they are the change-makers of today. When young people receive the necessary support, they can make a significant impact.”,” affirmed by a Hawa, YUWM President. 

The International Youth Day events concluded with a call to action for the government, private sector, and civil society to boost investment in youth-led initiatives and enhance policy frameworks for youth participation, ensuring Ghana’s youth can shape a sustainable future.