GCYE CEO Urges Stronger Institutional Support for Youth Development and Entrepreneurship at YES2025 in Tamale

Tamale, Ghana – The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs (GCYE) and Acting President of the Ghana Youth Federation (GYF), Mr. Sherif Ghali, has called on the Ministry of Finance and Parliament to restore the National Youth Authority’s (NYA) 5% District Assemblies Common Fund allocation, describing it as critical to advancing youth empowerment at the local level.

Speaking at the 5th National Young Entrepreneurs Summit, Expo and Awards (YES2025) held at the Modern City Hotel in Tamale, Mr. Ghali emphasized that youth development must be treated as a national investment, not an expense. He noted that removing the NYA’s statutory funding has weakened the Authority’s capacity to deliver on its mandate and undermines government’s own commitment to youth inclusion under the President’s development agenda.

“If we are serious about building the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders, restoring the NYA’s 5% district assembly common fund allocation is non-negotiable. Youth development is at the heart of the President’s vision, and it must reflect in the national budget,” he said.

The summit, organized by the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs (GCYE) in partnership with GIZ, NEIP, FILMA project and other ecosystem actors, brought together over 400 young entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and development partners under the theme “Positioning Young Entrepreneurs for the AfCFTA Era.”

During his address, Mr. Ghali also made a strong appeal for the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) to be transitioned into a fully-fledged statutory agency, arguing that entrepreneurship support in Ghana requires a permanent institutional framework with legal and financial autonomy.

“The NEIP has proven its relevance, but to sustain and scale its impact, it must evolve from a short-term programme into a statutory agency. Ghana’s youth need a stable national institution dedicated to startups and innovation,” he noted.

Mr. Ghali’s remarks drew wide attention among participants and government representatives, who agreed that structural reforms and sustained financing are key to realizing the potential of Ghana’s youth and startup ecosystem.

The YES2025 Summit also featured the Young Entrepreneurs Pitch (YEP) competition, the National Young Entrepreneurs Awards, and several policy dialogues focused on inclusive business, digital trade, and AfCFTA opportunities.

The event concluded with a call for greater collaboration among government, private sector, and development partners to institutionalize entrepreneurship as a driver of job creation and national transformation.