NYA, French Embassy Deepen Strategic Partnership to Expand Youth Empowerment and Skills Development

The National Youth Authority has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its partnership with the Embassy of France in Ghana to expand opportunities for youth empowerment, skills development, innovation, and social inclusion.

The renewed commitment was made when the Chief Executive Officer, Osman Abdulai Ayariga Esq., led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Ambassador of France to Ghana, H.E. Diarra Dimé-Labille, at the French Embassy in Accra.

Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Ayariga emphasised that the National Youth Authority highly values the enduring friendship and cooperation between Ghana and France, noting that both countries share a common vision of investing in young people as catalysts for national development. He stressed that the Authority remains committed to fostering stronger institutional partnerships that create meaningful opportunities for Ghanaian youth through skills development, innovation, entrepreneurship, and international collaboration.

Highlighting the government's flagship National Apprenticeship Programme, he described the initiative as a transformative platform designed to equip young Ghanaians with employable skills, enhance their economic participation, and build a highly productive workforce. He appealed to the Government of France to explore areas of collaboration with the NYA to expand technical training opportunities, facilitate knowledge exchange, and support the development of a globally competitive youth population. He further revealed that the programme has deliberately reserved between five and ten percent of beneficiary slots for persons with disabilities,  reflecting government's determination to ensure that no young Ghanaian is left behind in the country's economic transformation.

Responding, H.E. Diarra Dimé-Labille reaffirmed France's commitment to deepening its long-standing partnership with Ghana through practical and sustainable cooperation. She explained that France's engagement with Ghana is increasingly evolving from traditional development assistance towards strategic investment, innovation, youth mobility, and mutually beneficial institutional partnerships capable of delivering long-term impact.

The Ambassador emphasised that youth development and education remain central to France's engagement with Ghana, noting that empowering young people through skills acquisition, innovation, and international exposure is fundamental to building resilient economies and stronger societies. She proposed that the NYA and the French Embassy institutionalise regular engagements , including quarterly meetings — to identify new opportunities for collaboration and strengthen existing areas of cooperation.

H.E. Dimé-Labille also highlighted France's investment in innovation through its support for the Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development initiative at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, implemented through the Responsible AI Lab. The initiative is developing locally driven artificial intelligence solutions to address pressing challenges in agriculture, healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability, while preparing young innovators for the future digital economy.

On disability inclusion , a subject she spoke about with evident passion — the Ambassador expressed her desire to see more young persons with disabilities equipped with employable and entrepreneurial skills that enable them to live independently and contribute productively to society. She proposed closer collaboration between the NYA, development partners, and relevant stakeholders to explore sustainable policy interventions that promote the economic empowerment and social inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Also speaking during the meeting, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations and Programmes, Alhaji Inusah Mahama, formally invited the French Ambassador to the National Youth Conference scheduled for 10th to 13th August, describing it as one of Ghana's foremost platforms for youth dialogue, innovation, policy engagement, and national development. He also highlighted the Ghana Network of Young Persons with Disabilities, chaired by the National Youth Authority, explaining that the platform seeks to unite young persons with disabilities, amplify their voices in national decision-making, and promote equal opportunities in education, leadership, employment, and governance. He expressed confidence that stronger collaboration with the French Embassy would further advance the shared objective of building an inclusive and empowered youth population.

The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of both institutions to deepen cooperation through strategic partnerships that promote skills development, innovation, inclusion, and sustainable economic empowerment for young people across Ghana.