Young people in the Bono Region have been urged to embrace ethical leadership, innovation, and technology while rejecting corruption and other practices that undermine their opportunities to contribute meaningfully to national development.
The call was made at the Bono Youth Summit, organised by ActionAid Ghana in collaboration with Global Media Foundation (GLOMEF Ghana) and Citizens Watch Ghana to commemorate the 2026 International Youth Day. Held under the theme "Youth Advancing Multilateral Cooperation through Technology and Partnerships," the summit brought together young people, development practitioners, traditional and local government representatives, and civil society organisations to examine the role of youth in shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future. It was chaired by Master Daniel Sarkodie Frimpong, Speaker of the Sunyani Adolescents Parliament, and Mr. Ibrahim Habila, Municipal Coordinating Director of Sunyani West.
The Executive Director of Citizens Watch Ghana, Mr. Simon Asore, said effective youth leadership must be anchored on accountability, innovation, and ethics. He challenged young people to demand transparency from leaders while remaining accountable themselves, and raised concerns about situations where people in positions of authority allegedly demand money or favours before providing support, a practice he said discourages innovation and should not be normalised.
Sunyani West Municipal Coordinating Director, Alhaji Ibrahim Habila, identified the absence of a consistent national development plan beyond party manifestos as one of the major challenges confronting Ghana's development. He urged young people not to let themselves be used by unscrupulous individuals for selfish political or personal interests, encouraging them to uphold truth, patriotism, and hard work. He also challenged them to explore entrepreneurship rather than relying solely on white-collar jobs, and to use technology responsibly to take advantage of the opportunities it creates for learning, entrepreneurship, and networking.
A presentation by GLOMEF Ghana's CEO, Mr. Raphael Godlove Ahenu, examined the International Youth Day theme and how technology and partnerships could position young people as active contributors to development, including expanding access to education, employment, and civic participation for those facing geographical and socioeconomic barriers.
Participants also examined challenges threatening inclusive development, including political conflict, climate change, youth unemployment, misinformation, and migration, and stressed the need for stronger partnerships among government, civil society, the private sector, and young people themselves, with youth treated as partners and decision-makers, not just beneficiaries. The summit closed with renewed calls for young people to embrace innovation, ethical leadership, and responsible use of technology.
By: Kyere Esther Nyarko, Kotokrom.
