SYDA Seeks To Halt Irregular Migration In Ghana’s Bono Regions With African Youth Entrepreneurship Summit

Sunyani Youth Development Association (SYDA) is seeking to halt irregular migration in the Bono Regions of Ghana.

Through the African Youth Entrepreneurship Summit (YES-Africa), the Association is hoping to create employment opportunities while mentoring the youth.

The President of SYDA, Atta Akoto Senior, bemoaned the high rate of irregular migration among the youth in Ghana, which the Bono Regions are topping the ranking, during the media launch of the summit in Sunyani on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.

“One of the reasons people risks their lives across the desert and the Mediterranean Sea to seek greener pastures abroad is lack of decent and a well-paying jobs. This summit which would be hosted in Sunyani symbolizes the need to reverse the energies and fearlessness of the youths in the Bono Regions to rather engage in entrepreneurship.

“It is on record that Bono youths lead the league of irregular migrants in Ghana. The focus is to channel their energies to be daring in doing businesses through support, mentorships, and encouragements. If the war on irregular migration is to be won, then there is the need to engage our youths in entrepreneurship ventures,” he said.

Mr Akoto added: “This summit is therefore positioned to make the Bono Regions a hub of Ghana’s youth entrepreneurship as means of halting the menace of irregular migration that has engulfed the region.”

He further talked about using the ‘YES Africa’ summit to empower women.

“YES-Africa looks at targeting 60% females as against their male counterparts. 58% women in Africa choose to become entrepreneurs but unfortunately their profit margins are far below their male counterparts due to lack of capital, discrimination and dearth of collateral (The World Bank, 2018).

“This summit therefore would raise the issue of women entrepreneurship and the need to identify and support women entrepreneurs in Africa to enable their businesses get the needed expansion and growth. IT based business concepts of women need the support of all if they are to be given the needed chance to positively impact the world. This summit would therefore create the needed space for IT based young women entrepreneurs to get the right partnerships to enhance their capacities and concept development,” the SYDA President stated.

He called on Ghanaians, African governments and organizations to support this good course.

“We are inviting all well-meaning Ghanaians, development partners, Governments within Africa, youth based organizations, the various embassies and high commissions in Ghana and amongst others to come to support our course as SYDA seeks to embark on this beautiful project.
“We are optimistic that this summit if gets the needed support and sponsorships from our development partners, Government, NGOs and multinational organizations would set the base for African Community Youth Development and a definite sight in ending poverty on the continent,” Mr Atta Akoto Senior concluded.

For her part, the Bono Regional Director of the National Youth Authority, Madam Fati Bamba called on stakeholders to support the initiative.

She lauded the leaders of the Sunyani Youth Development Association for their commitment and embarking on projects that help in the empowerment of the youth.