Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment has launched National Youth Tracker Platform, YouthXplore to assist in providing job access to the youth.
The Tracker (Dashboard) will gather data and programmes from the National Youth Authority (NYA), Youth Employment Agency (YEA), National Entrepreneurship Programme (NEIP), National Service Authority (NSA), and other partner ministries and integrate them into the platform.
The YouthExplore App was launched together with AgTractive Campaign a nationwide movement under AGRA Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA) programme.
The AgTractive will undertake campaign in agricultural innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunities and connect young people who want to venture into agriculture.
Mr George Yaw Opare-Addo, the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment who performed the launch explained that the Tracker will give a clear picture of the full youth ecosystem, and real-time visibility of who was receiving support.
It will also dramatically reduced duplication, better targeting based on needs and priorities, the ability to track outcomes – not just inputs, and transparent use of public resources.
He said for years, agencies such as NYA, YEA, NEIP, and the NSA, alongside private sector, and development partners, have invested heavily in youth programmes.
“But these efforts often operated in silos. Some young people received support from multiple agencies, while others, equally deserving, received none. Data was scattered. Targeting was inconsistent. Resources were not coordinated,” he stated.
Adding, “In short, we were working hard but not working together.”
The Minister stated, “Behind this unified system is a new layer of intelligence that Ghana has never had before. The Tracker Dashboard is supported by analytical tools specifically designed for our local data: labour market trends, regional dynamics, and national priorities. It does more than store data – it interprets it.”
He said Ghana’s youth unemployment stood at 22.5 per cent and that more young women than men were affected, adding that, “Nearly 70 per cent of Ghana’s unemployed are young, and many of those who are employed are engaged in vulnerable, low-quality work.
“Every year, thousands of young Ghanaians step out ready to build their future. Yet, too many feel unseen, unsupported, and uncertain about what lies ahead. This is not because they lack talent or drive. It is because the system meant to guide them is fragmented.”
Mr Opare-Addo said the YouthXplore mobile app has come to put opportunity directly into the hands of every young Ghanaian.
He said the AGRA-driven AgTractive Campaign would encourage young Ghanaians to lead in modern agriculture and innovation and it was aligned with the national effort to give every young person a clear path toward skills, opportunity, and meaningful work.
Dr Betty Annan, Country Director, AGRA, Ghana said AGRA has a five-year youth-centred programme in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation known as the Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture.
“It is International Fund for Agricultural Development being implemented in 10 countries across Africa we are fortunate to have this programme here in Ghana.
“The programme seeks to provide opportunities in the agriculture and agribusiness space for youth innovating and pursuing entrepreneurial endeavours in the sector. We are specifically targeting young women between the ages of 18 and 35 who are proactive and committed to create jobs for themselves,” she stated
Dr Annan said according to an analysis carried out by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, every dollar invested in sustainable agriculture could yield up to 16 dollars in returns.
She also stated that according to FAO and civil society group of livelihood EU, investing in agriculture is three times more effective in reducing poverty than other sectors.
“We believe that there are strong evidence and opportunities that agricultural employment and pursuing entrepreneurship in food systems can be more profitable and lift more people out of poverty,” she said.