The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has outdoored the Ga-Dangme Youth Development Fund, announcing a seed donation of GH¢20,000 to empower young people in the Ga State and across the capital.

Speaking at the official launch of the Ga Youth Forum at the John Wesley Methodist Church Hall, Palladium, the Mayor described the fund as a bold step towards creating sustainable opportunities for Ga youth through scholarships, skills training, and job creation.

He stressed that the initiative was anchored on his vision to “make Accra and the Ga State rise again” by investing in the future of the younger generation.

According to him, the fund would provide a structured avenue for mobilising resources to address education, employment, and entrepreneurship gaps among Ga youth.

 “There is a scholarship scheme from which every school in the city will benefit from but 30% of the total scholarships will be reserved specifically for Ga youth,” he stated, adding that this would open pathways for more Ga lawyers, doctors, nurses, artisans, and professionals.

He also revealed plans to create over 1,000 jobs, highlighting entrepreneurship support, TVET opportunities, and training programmes as key focus areas.

"One of the best ways to reduce teenage pregnancy in the Ga community was to keep our girls in school, stressing that with scholarships and TVET training, girls would be given a brighter future,” he said.

The Mayor emphasised that the initiative reflects his personal journey and commitment to the Ga State recalling how, despite setbacks, he pursued his dream and urged the youth to remain resilient, truthful, and faithful in the pursuit of their aspirations.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Malik Basintale pledged support for the Ga Youth Forum and commended the organisers for initiating a landmark programme that could serve as a model for other ethnic groups in Ghana.

He announced that the "Waste to Wealth Project" which trains young people to convert coconut husks into exportable products like charcoal, had reserved 200 slots for Ga youth out of a total 2,000 beneficiaries nationwide.

He urged the youth to embrace technical and vocational skills, pointing to the Philippines’ model of exporting skilled workers as a pathway for national growth.

CEO Basintale described the Ga land as “blessed and fertile,” insisting that with proper training and empowerment, the Ga youth could become central to Ghana’s economic transformation.

The Chairman of McDan Group, Dr. Daniel McKorley, pledged to create 10,000 jobs for young people in the Ga area through an employment drive dubbed McDan Jobs.

He explained that the initiative is intended to move beyond rhetoric and deliver tangible opportunities for unemployed youth in the region.

Dr. McKorley added that public discourse has become excessive and questioned, “what are we doing for ourselves?”, stressing that the moment calls for practical action and real steps that will transform livelihoods and secure a better future for the people.

The launch, held under the theme “Facing the Future; The Power of You,” brought together traditional leaders, government officials, youth groups, and dignitaries including Dr. Ishmael Nii Amanor Dodoo, Head of Innovative Finance, Partnership and Markets, 24 Hour economy, Office of the President, Apostle Abraham Lamptey, Head Pastor, House of Worship International, Nae Wulomo , Nuumo Akwaa Mensah III who pledged support for the forum’s objectives.The programme ended with a call for unity, respect for heritage, and collective effort in building a resilient Ga State, a vibrant Accra, and a stronger Ghana.