Ablakwa Apologises To Opposition Youth

Related Stories   A Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has admitted that government erred in reviewing the National Youth Policy without the inputs of major stakeholders. Vice President John Mahama launched the National Youth Policy on Thursday, confident that it would address the many challenges facing the country’s youth. But the youth of opposition parties boycotted the launch, claiming the policy document was not national in character but more of an NDC document meant to suit the part’s so-called “Better Ghana Agenda”. Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana programme Friday, Mr Ablakwa apologised on behalf of the government, emphasising the necessity to respect the processes and contribution of stakeholders in the policy review. He promised the government will engage all stakeholders during the implementation of the policy because “we will be disappointed if we left power and we were credited to have done an NDC Youth Policy” instead of a national one. The Member of Parliament for Okaikoi South, Nana Akomea, who was a co-panellist on the programme, accused the government of polarising the youth front by sidelining stakeholders in the review of the National Youth Policy which he said has accounted for the rejection of the Policy by youth in opposition parties. He chided the government for wasting too much time in launching and implementing the 30-page policy which he said was approved by cabinet before the past government left office. He added that now that other stakeholders have rejected the policy, the government was going to spend more time to engage them for their inputs, a situation he said would delay the policy’s implementation the more.       Source: Dorcas Efe Mensah/myjoyonline.com/Ghana