Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Abdulai Ayariga, has praised President John Dramani Mahama’s administration for demonstrating that young people can deliver effectively when given the opportunity to serve in government.
Mr Ayariga said the youthful composition of the current administration was a strong demonstration of the capacity of young people to contribute meaningfully to governance and national development.
Speaking on the second day of the 2026 National Youth Conference at the KNUST Great Hall in Kumasi on Wednesday, August 12, he urged other African leaders to take inspiration from President Mahama’s approach to youth inclusion in governance.
“His Excellency John Dramani Mahama has shown to the entire world what young people can do when given the opportunity,” Mr Ayariga said.
He stressed that youth inclusion in leadership should go beyond representation and focus on the ability of young people to deliver results for citizens.
“I think that African leaders need to emulate and copy the traits and character of President Mahama for having one of the youthful or most youthful governments in Africa, and that government is performing and performing excellently well,” he said.
Mr Ayariga also urged young people appointed to leadership positions to conduct themselves responsibly, saying their performance could either create or limit opportunities for others.
“To the youth, when given that opportunity, you can open more doors for other youth to be given opportunities or you can shut it based on how we conduct ourselves,” he added.
