The Northern Regional Youth Network, has petitioned the government over the persistent decline in financial allocations from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to critical youth development institutions such as the National Youth Authority (NYA) and Youth Employment Agency (YEA).
According to the groups under the Follow the Money Campaign in collaboration with YEFL-Ghana under the Empowerment for Life (E4L) Programme,, the statutory five percent allocation from the DACF to the NYA has dropped to 0.6 per cent while the 10% due the YEA has also declined to a meagre 0.6%.
They argued that the drastic reduction representing more than 94% for the NYA together with irregular and insufficient funding for the YEA, demonstrated lack of government commitment to youth-focused initiatives despite an increase in national revenue.
The youth marched through the principal streets of Tamale, and carried placards with inscriptions such as “From 10% to 0.6%: A deliberate dismantling of our statutory youth funding,” “A shrinking budget for a growing youth population is a recipe for national disaster,” and “0.6% is an insult, not a budget.”
The march sought to promote compliance, accountability, and transparency in the use of public funds designated for youth development.
Mr Mohammed Shamsudeen Ibrahim, Convener of the Youth Budget Monitors, who read the petition on behalf of the youth at the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, said funds specifically allocated to the NYA had fallen from GH¢85 million in 2018 to just GH¢5 million in the first two quarters of 2025.
He explained that under the NYA Act, 2016 (Act 939) and the YEA Act, 2015 (Act 887), the DACF was legally mandated to allocate 5% and 10% respectively to the two institutions for youth development.
He said, “However, recent data and monitoring reports by the Youth Budget Monitors demonstrate a disturbing trend of consistent underfunding well below the statutory mandates.”
Mr Shamsudeen said the chronic underfunding had left youth directorates and committees at the regional and district levels constrained with limited operational resources crippling their ability to coordinate and monitor programmes effectively.
He explained that the situation had also weakened collaboration between district assemblies, youth groups, and regional structures resulting in fragmented and ineffective youth development efforts.
He said, “Most critically, rural and marginalised youth across the country are disproportionately affected with many community-level youth projects stalled or abandoned.”
The group called on the government and relevant national agencies including the Ministry of Finance to restore the full statutory allocations of 5% for the NYA and 10% for the YEA while ensuring transparency by publishing DACF disbursements to youth institutions.
They called for specific budgetary provisions to enable the NYA to develop and implement a robust public monitoring and evaluation framework for the National Youth Policy.
Mr Shamsudeen proposed that the NYA be directed to adopt expenditure guidelines that would ensure at least 50% of its budget was dedicated to directing youth empowerment programmes including skills development, entrepreneurship, and employment initiatives.
Receiving the petition on behalf of the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Abubakari Inusah, the Regional Economic Planning Officer, commended the youth for their commitment to promoting inclusive development and engaging constructively with authorities.
He assured them of the government’s unwavering support and commitment to addressing their concerns.
GNA
