Tamale: The Youth Budget Monitors under the Northern Regional Youth Network, supported by YEFL-Ghana, have raised concerns over the steady decline in statutory allocations from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to the National Youth Authority (NYA) and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA). They argued that the trend undermines efforts to promote youth empowerment, skills training, and employment across the country.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Youth Budget Monitors voiced their concerns at a press conference in Tamale. During the event, Hamza Sulemana, a member of the Network, reiterated that under Act 939 and Act 887, the NYA and YEA are legally entitled to five percent and ten percent of the DACF, respectively. However, analysis by the Youth Budget Monitors has shown that actual disbursements have fallen below these statutory levels in recent years.
The statement revealed that the NYA's allocation declined from GHc85 million in 2018 to GHc5 million in the first two quarters of this year. It also noted that the YEA's allocation has fallen to below one percent of the DACF, contrary to the ten percent requirement. This shortfall has resulted in several regional and district youth offices being unable to execute their programs for the benefit of young people.
The decline has affected youth programming at both the regional and district levels, leading to reduced implementation of training, leadership, and entrepreneurship initiatives. It has also limited oversight and coordination of youth activities by local structures and caused delays and cancellations of youth employment programs nationwide. The Northern, Upper East, and Upper West Regions have been the most affected, with many community-level youth initiatives stalled due to lack of funding.
The statement emphasized the importance of community-level youth development, noting that regional structures are the backbone of coordination. When budgets shrink, the entire youth support system weakens. In response, YEFL-Ghana and the Youth Budget Monitors urged the Ministry of Finance and the DACF Secretariat to restore full statutory allocations as stipulated under Act 939 and Act 887. They also called on Parliament to exercise oversight to ensure compliance with youth financing laws.
Additionally, the DACF Secretariat was urged to publish allocation data to enhance transparency, and there was a call for the Ghana Audit Service to conduct an independent review of DACF compliance over the past five years. Mr. Abdul-Ganiyu Alhassan, Technical Advisor, Youth and Gender at YEFL-Ghana, stated, "Act 939 and Act 887 are clear on youth financing. Respecting these laws is essential for sustaining trust and promoting youth inclusion in national development."