Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Abdulai Ayariga, has challenged Ghanaian youth to combine ambition and talent with strong character, integrity and patriotism to help transform the country.

Mr Ayariga said while young people possessed the creativity, skills and energy required to drive national development, those qualities could have negative consequences if they were not guided by discipline and responsible citizenship.

He made the remarks on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, when he opened the 2026 National Youth Conference at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, held on the theme, “Rebuilding Values, Inspiring Patriotism: Empowering the Youth in the Digital Age”.

He said patriotism should not be reduced to symbolic displays on national occasions but should be reflected in the everyday actions of citizens.

According to him, keeping communities clean, creating jobs, mentoring others, rejecting corruption and performing one's duties honestly were all forms of patriotism.

“Patriotism is asking yourself, every day: what can I do today to make Ghana better?” he said.

Mr Ayariga also urged young people to recognise that national development could not be achieved by government alone, stressing that responsible citizens, ethical leadership and productive communities were equally important.

“Talent without character can become dangerous. Technology without responsibility can become destructive. Ambition without values curdles into selfishness, and leadership without integrity becomes a burden rather than a gift to society,” he said.

He said the National Youth Authority was committed to supporting young people with skills, mentorship, information and platforms to participate in national decision-making.

He noted that the Authority was working with government institutions, development partners, civil society, academia, the private sector and youth organisations to strengthen opportunities for young people.

Mr Ayariga further encouraged participants to use the conference to build networks, find mentors, exchange ideas and develop practical solutions to challenges affecting young people, including unemployment, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, governance, substance abuse, climate change, peacebuilding and the creative economy.

He challenged the youth to change the mindset of waiting for government to provide everything, urging them instead to consider how they could contribute to Ghana's development.

“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.