The National Youth Authority (NYA), Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Youth Secretariat, organized 1st session the 3rd Youth Parliamentary Sitting on Thursday, 23rd July 2026, at the Municipal Assembly Hall under the theme, “Bridging the Skills Gap: Aligning Youth Training with Industry Demand in Kpone-Katamanso Municipality.”
The programme brought together youth parliamentarians, officials of the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly (KKMA), development partners, and other invited guests to deliberate on issues affecting youth development, unemployment, and entrepreneurship within the municipality.
The MCE, Hon. Morton, NYA Regional Director and the Head of Planning Department KKMA
In her welcome address, the Municipal Director of the National Youth Authority, Mrs. Janice Anaman Mensah, welcomed participants and commended the youth for their commitment to serving the municipality through the Youth Parliament. She described the Youth Parliament as an important platform that equips young people with leadership, public speaking, and decision-making skills while giving them the opportunity to discuss issues affecting their communities. She encouraged members to remain united, non-partisan, and focused on finding practical solutions to challenges such as unemployment, skills development, social vices and sanitation. Mrs. Anaman Mensah also urged the youth parliamentarians to conduct themselves with discipline and respect throughout the sitting, assuring them that the National Youth Authority would continue to support their work and consider the recommendations they put forward to promote youth development in the municipality.
The Municipal Director of NYA, Mrs Janaice Anaman Mensah delivering the welcome address.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Samuel T. K. Morton, in his inaugural address, stressed the need to equip young people with practical and employable skills that align with the demands of industry. He also encouraged the youth to take advantage of available opportunities to improve their livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to the development of the municipality.
The MCE of KKMA, Hon. Samuel T. K. Morton delivering his inaugural speech
The Municipal Chief Clerk presented the minutes of the previous Youth Parliamentary Sitting. The Speaker of the Youth Parliament, Hon. Ashford Oquaye Mensah, in his remarks, urged participants to engage actively in the day’s deliberations by proposing practical solutions to the challenges confronting the youth. The parliamentary sitting commenced with the presentation of the order paper by Mr. Mathias Kofi Blay, after which members engaged in a debate on the theme and the subject matter for deliberation, “Promoting Youth Entrepreneurship as a Sustainable Solution to Unemployment.”
Hon. Oquaye ( Speaker of the youth parliament), The Marshall, and The Municipal Youth Clerk at the Sitting
During the debate, members of the Majority and Minority caucuses presented arguments in support of and against the motion. Discussions centered on the need to strengthen technical and vocational education, improve collaboration between educational institutions and industry, create more opportunities for skills development, and provide greater support for youth entrepreneurship through access to funding, mentorship, and business development services. Participants agreed that entrepreneurship remains a viable strategy for reducing unemployment and improving the socio-economic well-being of young people in the municipality.
Members from the Majority and Minority Caucuses at the sitting.
At the end of the debate, resolutions and recommendations were adopted, and a statement was announced.
Madam Sakina Nyankamawu of the Development Planning Unit also delivered a presentation on development planning and highlighted opportunities available for youth participation in the municipality’s development agenda. Her presentation encouraged young people to actively engage in community development initiatives and take advantage of government programmes designed to enhance their skills and economic prospects.
In his closing remarks by the Municipal Chief Executive, commended the National Youth Authority, the Youth Parliament, and all participants for their commitment to youth development.
Honorable Members of Parliament with the speaker and other dignitaries
Overall, the third Youth Parliamentary Sitting provided a valuable platform for constructive dialogue between young people and municipal authorities on addressing unemployment and enhancing youth employability. The programme reinforced the importance of aligning education and skills training with industry demands while promoting entrepreneurship as a sustainable pathway to job creation and economic growth in the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality.