Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Abdulai Ayariga, has urged Ghanaian youth to harness digital technology to create opportunities, solve problems and contribute meaningfully to national development.

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, Mr Ayariga said the widespread access to smartphones, digital platforms and global networks had given young people unprecedented opportunities to learn, innovate and influence society.

He said young people should therefore move beyond merely consuming content online and use technology to develop businesses, create applications, acquire skills and mobilise communities.

“So 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,” he said.

Mr Ayariga said the digital age also came with significant responsibilities, particularly regarding the content young people create and share online.

He urged the youth to demonstrate integrity, discipline and respect both online and offline, stressing that technological advancement without responsibility could become destructive.

“Power has to come with responsibility — what are we posting, sharing, creating? What are we saying about our country, and about ourselves?” he asked.

He said the theme of the conference, “Rebuilding Values, Inspiring Patriotism: Empowering the Youth in the Digital Age”, was therefore relevant to the challenges and opportunities confronting the younger generation.

The NYA CEO said young people should not allow themselves to be defined as a problem for society, arguing that their energy, creativity and access to technology could become powerful tools for national transformation.

He urged participants to use the conference to ask difficult questions, share experiences from their communities and engage policymakers constructively, saying young people should recognise that they already had a place in national decision-making.

“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.