Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Abdulai Ayariga, has urged Ghanaian youth to move beyond being passive recipients of government interventions and take an active role in shaping the country’s future.

Speaking at the opening of the 2026 National Youth Conference at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Mr Ayariga said young people must recognise their capacity to influence national development through their ideas, skills, leadership and civic participation.

He said the conference, held under the theme “Rebuilding Values, Inspiring Patriotism: Empowering the Youth in the Digital Age”, was intended to provide young people with a platform to engage in meaningful discussions on issues affecting their lives and the country.

Mr Ayariga encouraged participants to actively contribute to the discussions instead of simply listening to speakers, stressing that some of the most valuable ideas could come from young people themselves.

“Ask difficult questions, respectfully. Challenge speakers constructively. Tell us what’s actually happening in your communities, what isn’t working, and what should be done differently,” he said.

He said the youth should not wait until they occupied formal positions or attained a certain age before taking responsibility for their communities and country.

“You belong at the table. You don’t have to wait until you’re older to matter, until you have a title to lead, or for permission to make a difference,” he said.

The NYA CEO said the Authority was committed to creating platforms that would strengthen youth participation in decision-making at the national, regional and district levels, in collaboration with the Ghana Youth Federation and other stakeholders.

He urged participants to use the conference to establish meaningful connections, identify mentors, share ideas and develop practical solutions to challenges confronting young people.

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. And bring somebody else along with you,” Mr Ayariga said.

He challenged the youth to leave the conference with a renewed commitment to contributing to Ghana’s development, saying the country's future was already being shaped by the choices young people make today.