Dr. Wilfred Ochan, Country Representative for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has emphasized the urgent need for strategic investment in Africa’s youth to unlock the continent’s full economic potential.
He made the call during the Youth Prosperity Dialogue, part of the ongoing 2026 Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD), held under the theme: “Empowering SMEs, Women, and Youth for the Single Market: Innovate, Collaborate, Trade” at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on Thursday, 5th February, 2026.
In a speech read on behalf of Dr. Wilfred Ochan, he emphasized that Africa’s demographic profile presents both immense responsibility and unparalleled opportunity.
“Africa stands at a crossroads defined by a demographic reality that must be nurtured with deliberate investment and strategic policy,” the message read. Dr. Ochan noted that over 60% of Africa’s population is under the age of 25, with Ghana alone hosting more than 11 million young citizens, representing 38.2% of the national population.
Quoting United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Dr. Ochan highlighted that “young people are the leading edge of the challenges and opportunities of our world,” stressing that a demographic dividend is not automatic but must be actively cultivated through sustained investment by governments, civil society, and development partners.
He also stressed the critical importance of empowering young entrepreneurs, particularly in the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector, which has the potential to create 50 million jobs by 2030.
Dr. Ochan highlighted existing challenges, including Africa’s $331 billion financing gap for SMEs, and stressed the need to bridge skills-to-market mismatches by expanding digital trade infrastructure, enabling innovators in Accra, Lagos, Johannesburg, and beyond to trade seamlessly across the continent.
Dr. Ochan commended Ghana’s government for its robust policy architecture and youth-focused initiatives.
He noted programs such as the Youth Scaling Program, which equips young entrepreneurs and artisans with market-oriented skills, and the revised National Service Authority Act of 2024, which strengthens employability and professional readiness through initiatives like the Work Readiness and Leadership Program.
He also highlighted Ghana’s efforts to develop the National Youth Peace and Security Action Plan, aligned with UN Security Council Resolution 2250, recognizing youth as essential partners in national security and social cohesion.
However, Dr. Ochan emphasized that true prosperity requires addressing systemic barriers that limit young people’s opportunities to innovate and participate fully in national and continental development. He called for ensuring youth voices are meaningfully integrated into policymaking, national development plans, and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Dr. Ochan urged participants at the APD 2026 to translate dialogue into action, saying, “From the dreams and aspirations of young people, the market arrives. But it is their capacities that will ensure Africa’s trade truly happens.
Together, we must ensure that AfCFTA and Africa’s growth fulfill the promise of a prosperous, integrated, and self-reliant continent.”
By Sampson Kumah Ifeetwube Elvis
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