Hon. George Opare Addo, Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, has emphasized the critical role of Africa’s youth in shaping the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He made the call when he delivered his keynote address 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.
The Minister underscored the urgency of equipping Africa’s youth to take ownership of the single market agenda. “Africa today stands at a defining moment in its history. More than 60% of our population is under the age of 25.
This is not merely a statistic; it is energy, creativity, resilience, and ambition on an unprecedented scale,” he said.
The Minister stressed that the AfCFTA’s success will not rely solely on tariffs, protocols, or institutions but on empowering young people to lead through deliberate skills development, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
He described the Youth Prosperity Dialogue as a central pillar in Africa’s prosperity agenda, providing a platform for young people to engage, innovate, and collaborate.
He highlighted Ghana’s national initiatives aimed at youth empowerment.
The Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment has established programs such as the Jumeirah Program, which supports young entrepreneurs with business training, mentorship, productive equipment, and market access.
The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, alongside the National Apprenticeship Program, provides technical and vocational skills aligned with real economic demand.
“Digital transformation is also central to our approach,” the Minister noted, pointing to tools like the National Youth Tracker and the Youth Explorer app, which consolidate information on jobs, training, entrepreneurship support, scholarships, and apprenticeships.
These platforms, he said, are helping young Ghanaians transition from education to work while strengthening evidence-based policymaking.
Minister Opare Addo also outlined Ghana’s commitment to cross-border collaboration, stressing that national efforts alone are insufficient for Africa’s integrated single market.
“Young Africans must see the AfCFTA not as an abstract agreement but as an opportunity to scale businesses, collaborate across cultures, and turn ideas into enterprises that serve 1.5 billion people,” he stated.
Touching on the continent’s demographic trends, the Minister said, “Africa’s population is projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, with the majority under 25.
Each year, 12 million youth enter the job market, yet only three million access formal employment. This is not a crisis; it is our continent’s most pressing investment opportunity.”
To harness this potential, Opare Addo recommended the adoption of the AfCFTA Youth Acceleration Framework, which includes the mutual recognition of vocational and digital skills through a skills passport, the establishment of a Pan-African youth venture financing facility, and the integration of mandatory youth impact assessments across all AfCFTA protocols.
He stressed that the future of Africa’s single market depends on youth-led innovation, entrepreneurship, and cross-border collaboration.
“The integrated Africa we dream of will be built by the young woman coding a seamless payment platform in Lagos, the young entrepreneur managing a climate-smart export hub in Tamale, and the graduate launching a telehealth service from Johannesburg,” he said.
The Minister further called on policymakers, business leaders, and development partners to invest in youth not as beneficiaries but as partners.
“If we get this right, Africa’s youth will not only drive the AfCFTA—they will redefine Africa’s place in the global economy,” he declared. He urged delegates to seize the moment as a turning point where dialogue leads to delivery and youth take their rightful place at the center of shared prosperity.
By Sampson Kumah Ifeetwube Elvis
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