“The Africa We Want Begins With What We Do Today”- Moses Baffour Awuah Tells Young Africans”
Global CEO of Youth Arise Organization, Moses Baffour Awuah, has urged young Africans not to wait for tomorrow to make an impact, stressing that the Africa they want begins with the choices they make and actions they take today.
Speaking at the opening of the Africa We Want Symposium in Accra, he challenged young people to look beyond demanding a seat at the policy table and first demonstrate their ability to create tangible impact within their communities. He said meaningful leadership must be rooted in service and practical action.
“Before we demand a seat at the policy table, we must ask ourselves how are we serving our local communities,” he said, stressing that young people must prove their value through the solutions they create on the ground.
How Youth Arise Trainees are solving community challenges
Mr Awuah pointed to Youth Arise Organization’s Community Impact Project, community service and After Learning Project as initiatives designed to help young people turn ideas into practical actions that address challenges in their communities. According to him, these local interventions are important building blocks for the wider transformation young Africans seek across the continent.
He said when young people demonstrate “tangible, undeniable value on the ground,” their participation in decision-making would no longer be viewed as a favour but become necessary to achieving meaningful development. He therefore urged participants at the symposium to approach the policy labs with a solutions-focused mindset.
“Don’t just identify the problems. We already know the challenges of unemployment, climate vulnerability, and governance gap. Focus 80% of your energy on viable and scalable solutions,” he said.
Mr. Awuah said the Africa We Want Symposium was an opportunity for young people to move from discussions to action by developing practical recommendations that could be integrated into the Accra Youth Statement and presented to policy leaders. “Let’s use this morning not merely to talk about the Africa we want, but to design, draft, and build it,” he said, adding that “the blueprint is in our hands.”
Written by Samuel Nii Adjetey
