Accra: The Association of Youth Work Practitioners (AYWP) Ghana has been inaugurated in Accra with a call on stakeholders to recognise and support youth work as a professional discipline critical to the country’s development. The inauguration affirms the Association’s commitment to setting standards, promoting ethics, and advocating for greater recognition of youth workers.
According to Ghana News Agency, Alhaji Inusah Mahama, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), emphasized the central role of youth in Ghana’s development. He highlighted the establishment of a dedicated ministry for youth development and empowerment as a milestone that must be sustained. Mahama underscored the need for professionalism in youth work, stressing that quality assurance is necessary to ensure that every young person, regardless of background, has access to competent guidance from trained professionals.
Mahama stated, “For practitioners, professionalism provides recognition, career progress, and fair remuneration for the invaluable service you render to the nation. For national development, it builds a pipeline of capable professionals who can systematically implement the ambitions of the national youth policy.” He pledged the NYA’s support to the Association, indicating that it would collaborate with youth workers to advocate for policies that protect the profession and integrate certified practitioners into national programmes.
Mr. Peter A. Awuni, Coordinator for the Commonwealth Alliance of Youth Workers’ Associations (CAYWA), described the youth work landscape in Ghana as one defined by persistent unemployment and underemployment, despite higher levels of education among the youth. He noted that while significant interventions have been rolled out, youth work is still not fully recognised as a profession, and investment in the sector remains inadequate.
Awuni introduced six domains of youth development – health and wellbeing, education, employment and opportunity, political and civic participation, peace and security, and equality and inclusion – as critical areas within which youth workers operate. He referenced the Marlborough House Commitment adopted by Commonwealth Youth Ministers, which called on member states to professionalise youth work through formal education and training pathways, codes of conduct, and national associations.
Outlining the vision of AYWP Ghana, Awuni stated that the Association aims to build a country where youth work is recognised and valued, where practitioners are trained and supported, and where they collaborate to influence youth and national development policy.
Ms. Tanya Merrick Powell, Co-Chair of CAYWA and Senior Technical Director of the Jamaica Professional Youth Workers Association, applauded Ghana for relaunching the Association, describing it as a critical step in advancing youth development on the continent. She noted that youth work is more than policy papers and dialogue, highlighting that practitioners themselves are often marginalised and excluded. She stated, “We don’t like all the talking. We want to act, because every day we get up through our most important resource – passion – and we serve young people. They are not just beneficiaries but our partners in development.”
The inauguration marks a milestone for Ghana’s youth sector, providing a platform to standardise practices, strengthen advocacy, and ensure that the contributions of youth work professionals are recognised in the country’s development agenda.