Assessing youth capacity to influence public policy and practice in Ghana

Abstract

This capacity assessment on youth groups, networks and organisations revealed that
only 4 per cent of youth-focused organisations and groups in Ghana were legally
registered with the Registrar General’s Department. Majority (at least 54%) of the
groups and networks (including organisations) lacked clear-cut organisational
structure and systems, mission and strategy and the requisite personnel (people) to
function effectively. Leadership and management capacity to deliver on their mandate
was inadequate to influence public policy in favour of the youth. Few of the youth
groups and organisations understood the youth policy and legal framework in Ghana.
Again, majority did not understand their sector of operations; and majority were not
financially sustainable. The assessment which was conducted across the sixteen (16)
regions of Ghana categorised youth groups into a) Organisations engaged in youth
work; b) Youth-led organisations or groups; and c) Youth Networks or Federations.
A regional list of youth groups and organisations within the three categories was the
sample frame and used to purposively sample as many youth as could be reached for
the assessment