The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has stressed the need for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to invest continuously in its youth wing to secure the party’s future.

He said young people formed a significant part of Ghana’s electorate and must therefore be equipped with the skills and leadership capacity required to contribute to both the party and national development.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day Western Regional Quadrennial Youth Conference of the NDC in Takoradi, Mr Armah-Kofi Buah urged young party members to remain committed, patient and hardworking while positioning themselves to take advantage of emerging opportunities.

“The NDC’s future is tied to the youth wing, and if we take our eye off the ball on the youth front, as a political party, we will not survive. If people have not checked the data, the last time I checked, over 70% of the voters in Ghana are under 40 years,” he said.

The Minister also said the government was working to expand opportunities for young people, indicating that the next national budget would place significant emphasis on youth empowerment.

He cited initiatives in education, healthcare and employment as part of efforts to restore confidence in the economy, while highlighting the creation of more than 2,000 jobs through the Blue Water Guards initiative under his ministry.

Addressing the youth, Mr Armah-Kofi Buah urged them to remain focused despite delays in securing opportunities, assuring them that commitment and hard work would eventually be recognised.

“I think as a youth front, one of the messages I want you to take is that in the NDC, the word is work hard, sacrifice, don’t even look back. But somebody is watching you, and you will be rewarded at the right time,” he said.

He further encouraged the youth to avoid undermining others in their pursuit of political advancement, stressing that dedication to the party and service to the country would create opportunities for them to assume leadership in the future.