The Vice Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Professor Lydia Aziato, has charged young people, especially young women and persons with disability, to confront the seemingly insurmountable barriers that confront them and chart their paths to the top of their chosen fields.

Using her life story as an example, Prof. Aziato narrated how she successfully scaled over obstacles that others had come to accept. “Everyone would typically say it couldn’t be, but I would tell myself there is always a first time”, she recounted.

She was speaking at the Ghana Grows Youth Policy Dialogue which gathered young people from Ho and surrounding districts on at the Ho Technical University.

The Ghana Grows Programme is a collaborative initiative by the MasterCard Foundation and Springboard Road Show Foundation. The programme seeks to equip young people, particularly women, with the knowledge and confidence to explore career paths in agriculture, agribusiness, and technical and vocational fields.

The Youth Policy Dialogue served as a platform to create awareness among young people about various policies that impact their lives and to equip them with the skills to confidently engage with policymakers and duty-bearers.

It also provided the opportunity for various agribusiness, technical, and vocational youth ambassadors to showcase their business initiatives and network with like-minded colleagues.

Opening the event, Comfort Ocran, Executive Director of Springboard Road Show Foundation charged participants to take action by bringing to the table the challenges and opportunities they see in the Agric and ATVET sectors, sharing their thoughts on how to bridge the gap between education and employment in these sectors, and more importantly, share what policies and resources they need to thrive.

The dialogue specifically addressed Commitments 1 and 2 of Chapter 5 of the National Gender Policy, focusing on women's empowerment, livelihoods, and their right to access justice.

A lawyer cum activist, Ms. Hilary Gbedemah shared insights with participants on engaging stakeholders with confidence, emphasizing the importance of awareness, appearance, public speaking, etiquette, and networking skills. Her address resonated deeply with attendees, providing practical strategies for effective communication and interaction in professional settings.

Dr Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, Executive Director of the Ark Foundation, presented a compelling case study of her Foundation, shedding light on policy awareness and how to engage with stakeholders. Using her years of expertise, she highlighted the role of advocacy and collaboration in advancing women's rights and access to justice.

“As you progress on your journey, do not walk alone. Always look out for opportunities to collaborate with others and to shine in the face of obstacles”, Dr Dwamena-Aboagye concluded.
This initiative by the Ghana Grows Programme is expected to contribute towards inspiring and equipping a new generation of Ghanaians to succeed in agribusiness and contribute to the nation's economic growth.

The various insights and recommendations from the Ghana Grows Policy Dialogue and the roundtable held early on in the day are expected to be captured in a policy brief to help shape the future of youth engagement in Ghana.

Springboard Road Show Foundation invited the young people present and others seeking to explore opportunities in the agriculture, agribusiness, and technical and vocational fields through the Ghana Grows Programme to dial 71850# or call or WhatsApp 0308255775 to reach the Ghana Grows Call Centre for free assistance.