Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo
The Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF) has expressed concern over the exclusion of the newly appointed Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, from President John Dramani Mahama’s 19-member cabinet.
President Mahama on February 20, 2025, announced his 19-member cabinet in accordance with Article 76(1) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which says “There shall be a Cabinet which shall consist of the President, the Vice-President and not less than ten and not more than nineteen Ministers of State.”
But reacting in a statement, YBF despite commending President Mahama for creating a standalone Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, questioned why the minister responsible for youth affairs was not included in the cabinet. It adds the exclusion was a missed opportunity to prioritize youth issues at the highest level of governance.
“The exclusion of the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment reinforces the long-standing rhetoric that youth lack the experience to lead at the highest levels of government,” the statement read.
“This assumption disregards the fact that experience is built through participation. If given the opportunity, the minister could understudy experienced cabinet members, gain institutional knowledge, and contribute innovative solutions to national issues.”, it added.
While acknowledging the numerical restriction, YBF argues that youth representation should not have been overlooked.
“The constitution may set a limit on the number of cabinet ministers, but it does not determine which portfolios deserve a seat at the table. Prioritizing youth issues requires deliberate action, and that begins with representation at the highest level of government,” the statement added.
YBF is therefore urging President Mahama to reconsider the exclusion of the youth minister in any future cabinet reshuffle. The foundation believes that ensuring youth representation at the highest levels of government is essential for long-term national development.
“We urge His Excellency the President to consider the inclusion of the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment in a future reshuffle,” YBF stated.
“This will not only allow him to carry and defend youth aspirations at the cabinet level but also ensure that youth-related policies receive the attention they deserve”, it concluded.
