NYA Boss Urges Youth To Use Technology To Build

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Abdulai Ayariga, has urged Ghanaian youth to move beyond consuming digital content and use technology to create businesses, develop innovative solutions and contribute to national development.

He said the digital age had presented young people with unprecedented opportunities to acquire knowledge, develop skills, create content and reach audiences across the world.

Mr. Ayariga, however, cautioned that the power offered by technology must be accompanied by responsibility, discipline and strong values.

He made the call at the opening of the 2026 National Youth Conference at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi.

The conference, organised as part of the 2026 National Youth Month celebration, is being held on the theme: “Rebuilding Values, Inspiring Patriotism: Empowering the Youth in the Digital Age.”

According to Mr. Ayariga, the conference was designed primarily for young people to discuss issues affecting them, share ideas and contribute to shaping Ghana’s future.

He said values such as integrity, discipline, respect and responsibility should guide the conduct of young people, both online and offline.

“Integrity is refusing to cheat even when you know you could get away with it. Discipline is doing what needs doing even when you don’t feel like it,” he said.

He said patriotism should also go beyond wearing national colours during national celebrations.

According to him, patriotism included keeping communities clean, creating jobs, mentoring other young people, rejecting corruption and performing one’s duties honestly.

Youth Not A Problem

Mr. Ayariga rejected the perception that young people were a problem to the country, describing them instead as a critical force for Ghana’s transformation.

He said the youth had access to tools that previous generations could only have imagined, including technology, global networks, creative platforms and vast sources of information.

“Don’t use your phone only to watch other people build—use it to build. Don’t only scroll—create. Don’t only complain—contribute. Don’t only wait for opportunity—prepare for it,” he urged.

He said the NYA recognised that youth empowerment must go beyond motivational speeches and include skills development, opportunities, mentorship, access to information and platforms where young people’s views could influence decision-making.

Youth At The Table

The NYA boss urged young people attending the conference to actively participate in the discussions rather than remain passive listeners.

He encouraged them to ask difficult questions respectfully, challenge ideas constructively and share experiences from their communities.

“The best ideas in this room may not come from the high table. They may come from you,” he stated.

Mr. Ayariga said the NYA was committed to working with government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, academia, the private sector and youth organisations to create opportunities for young people.

He said the Authority would continue supporting platforms that equipped young people and strengthened their voices in national development.

He also disclosed that, in collaboration with the Ghana Youth Federation, the NYA was mandated to organise youth conferences at the national, regional and district levels to ensure that youth voices were heard across the country.

Call To Action

Mr. Ayariga challenged young people to become a generation that would not only ask what Ghana could do for them but also what they could do for the country.

He urged them to be ambitious, disciplined, courageous, skilled and responsible in their use of technology.

“As this conference begins, I challenge every young person here to be part of a generation that doesn’t only ask what Ghana can give, but also asks what it can give to Ghana,” he said.

He encouraged participants to build meaningful connections, find mentors, share ideas and leave the conference with a clear commitment to take action for themselves, their families, communities and Ghana.

He said the future of Ghana was already being shaped by the choices young people were making today and urged them to take responsibility for building the country they wanted to see.