News:
March 26, 2026
The Minority on the Parliamentary Committee on Youth and Sports has expressed outrage over the complete absence of funding for the National Youth Authority (NYA) in the 2026 financial year, describing the decision as a troubling abandonment of the country’s youth.
Addressing the media, the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, who serves on the committee, stated that the zero allocation raises serious questions about the priorities of President John Mahama’s administration regarding youth development.
According to the Minority, the move represents a sharp departure from previous years and leaves the primary institution responsible for youth empowerment struggling to function without basic resources.
The Minority has issued a series of urgent recommendations to address what they term as a “policy gap” and a “painful abandonment of responsibility.” These include the immediate restoration of funding to the National Youth Authority from the District Assemblies’ Common Fund (DACF) and the release of an outstanding 30 million cedis to support administrative and operational functions.
The caucus also called for enhanced transparency and accountability in the allocation of funds to youth institutions, strengthened parliamentary oversight to ensure adherence to statutory provisions, and a renewed commitment to prioritizing youth development within national policy and budgeting processes.
Highlighting the stark contrast between past and present funding, Mr. Assafuah presented data showing consistent DACF allocations to the NYA under the previous administration. Records indicated allocations of 76.4 million cedis in 2017, 85.7 million in 2018, 71.2 million in 2019, and consistent funding through 2024. He noted that in 2026, despite the total DACF allocation increasing from 7.51 billion cedis in 2025 to 8.7 billion cedis, the NYA received nothing. “These are not just numbers; they represented opportunities, training, coordination, and hope for young people across the country,” he said, adding that the situation marks a move from sustained support to complete abandonment.
The lawmaker further criticized the government’s budget priorities, pointing out that while the NYA has been starved of funds, nearly 10 million cedis was allocated for drip irrigation equipment to be managed at the headquarters of the Authority. He argued that such an allocation is misplaced, especially when substantial funds have already been provided to assemblies for similar agricultural purposes. “I do not see how this is much more important to the youth development of this country,” Mr. Assafuah stated, questioning the logic behind funding specific projects while neglecting the core administrative capacity of the Authority.
According to the Minority, the neglect is particularly glaring because it contradicts clear legal provisions. Mr. Assafuah noted that the National Youth Authority Act explicitly stipulates that five percent of the DACF should be allocated to the NYA.
He lamented that despite this statutory requirement, the 2026 DACF formula made no provision for the Authority. He also revealed that although Parliament had previously approved 180 million cedis for the NYA — comprising 150 million cedis for the “Adwumawura” program and 30 million cedis for administration — the latest DACF disbursement suggests that even the administrative portion will not be released.
The Minority warned that the current situation is fostering a deep sense of disappointment among Ghanaian youth, who feel the trust they placed in the leadership has not been matched with action.
Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com