The Chief Executive Officer of GLOMEF Ghana, Mr. Raphael Godlove Ahenu has called for sustained investment in adolescent wellbeing, youth empowerment and inclusive development, since the future of every nation depends largely on the resilience and empowerment of its young people. According to him, young people are gifted with many potential, talents and wisdom that could be harnessed to advance the development of Ghana.
The CEO made the call during the closeout ceremony of the Resilient City for Adolescents (RCA) Project, where stakeholders gathered to reflect on achievements and lessons from the implementation of the initiative.
Addressing participants, Mr. Ahenu described the event as more than the conclusion of a project cycle, saying it represented the celebration of meaningful partnerships, impactful interventions and renewed hope for adolescents and young people.
He expressed appreciation to development partners, government institutions, schools, healthcare providers, traditional authorities, community leaders, parents, volunteers and the adolescents themselves for their contributions towards the successful implementation of the project.
According to him, adolescents in many communities continue to face numerous challenges, including limited access to quality education, unemployment, inadequate healthcare, climate vulnerabilities, social exclusion, gender inequality and mental health concerns.
Mr. Ahenu noted that such challenges pose serious threats not only to the future of young people but also to the sustainable development of communities and cities.
The GLOMEF Chief Executive explained that the RCA Project was designed to address some of these challenges by creating opportunities for meaningful adolescent participation, improving awareness on adolescent health and wellbeing, strengthening community engagement and promoting social inclusion.
He said the project had also empowered adolescents and young people to become active contributors to local development and decision-making processes.
“Over the course of the project implementation, we have witnessed remarkable achievements and inspiring stories of transformation,” he stated.
According to Mr. Ahenu, many adolescents and young people had gained knowledge, confidence, leadership skills and platforms to express their concerns and contribute to issues affecting their communities.
He said the project also strengthened collaboration among stakeholders, resulting in safer, more inclusive and adolescent-friendly communities.
The CEO further noted that the initiative had demonstrated the importance of creating supportive environments for young people, adding that when adolescents are given opportunities and the necessary support, they become powerful agents of change.
While acknowledging the end of the project phase, he stressed that the responsibility toward adolescents and young people should not end with the project.
He therefore called on government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, private sector actors and community leaders to continue supporting initiatives that place adolescents at the centre of development.
He urged stakeholders to strengthen investments in education, health, employment opportunities, climate resilience and civic participation to help build resilient and sustainable communities.
The GLOMEF Chief Executive also encouraged adolescents and young people to remain focused, responsible and committed to positive change.
Mr. Ahenu urged the stakeholders to sustain the partnerships and lessons developed through the project to ensure a better future for adolescents and young people in Ghana and beyond.
