GLOMEF CEO Calls for Stronger Global South–North Youth Cooperation at International Youth Day in Sunyani
Chief Executive Officer of the Global Media Foundation (GLOMEF), Mr. Raphael Godlove Ahenu, has urged young people in the Global South and North to work together as equal partners to address pressing global challenges. He stressed that true cooperation must be grounded in mutual respect, shared innovation and joint action.
The GLOMEF Boss, was presenting a paper at the Bono Regional Youth Summit in Sunyani as part of activities to commemorate this year’s International Youth Day, which was under the global theme: “Youth Advancing Multilateral Cooperation Through Technology and Partnerships”.
He was speaking on the topic: “Bridging Youth Voices: Advancing Global South–North Cooperation.”
Mr. Ahenu highlighted that climate change, unemployment, inequality, and digital exclusion transcend borders. He said the Global South is rich in untapped innovation and resilience, while the Global North holds advanced technology, stronger institutions, and vast resources. “Imagine what could happen if we stopped working in parallel and started truly working together,” he said, citing examples of youth-led renewable energy projects, cross-continental climate justice campaigns, and mobile technology collaborations to improve public service delivery.
He outlined the duty of young people to raise their voices against injustice, innovate together for climate action and social accountability, and ensure inclusion for rural communities, women, persons with disabilities, and other marginalised groups.
Mr. Ahenu urged participants to use the celebration as a platform for practical action — exchanging ideas, building cross-border partnerships, and influencing policy so as to ensure youth perspectives shape national and global agendas.
Bono Regional Programmes Manager of ActionAid Ghana, Mr. Kwame Afram Denkyira, delivered a blunt message, declaring that the older generation has “failed the youth” by not creating enough opportunities for their growth and empowerment. He lamented the high unemployment rate, pushing young people into risky ventures and called for greater youth participation in leadership and decision-making processes. “The youth of Ghana should rise and insist on shaping the policies that affect their future,” he said.
The Summit, themed “Igniting Youth Leadership Potential through Multilateral Cooperation for Social Accountability and Climate Justice,” was organised by Global Media Foundation LBG and its partners – Indigenous Women Empowerment Network, Citizens Watch Ghana, National Youth Authority and Young Urban Women Movement in collaboration with ActionAid Ghana Brong-Ahafo Program Office.
Representing Bono Regional Minister Joseph Addae Akwaboa Esq, Assistant Coordinating Director Samuel Mbo commended the theme and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for youth empowerment. He pledged to work with assemblies, traditional leaders, youth groups, and development partners to implement policies that promote inclusive participation, urging young people to take advantage of existing government programmes.
The event created a huge platform for the youth in Sunyani to speak up and express themselves in panel discussions. In a spirited call for action, the youth called on President John Dramani Mahama, through the Bono Regional Minister to consider rebuilding the Sunyani Regional Library project, which was abandoned over two decades ago.
By GLOMEF Communications Unit
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