The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, assured the youth that the government is working on reducing data costs to boost internet accessibility.
He highlighted that internet access in the country has increased from 32% when the current administration took office to 73% now, with the aim of achieving over 99% penetration within the next four years.
Dr. Bawumia made this commitment at the Pentecost Convention Center in Gomoa Fetteh, Central Region, during the International Youth Day (IYD) celebrations. He expressed his intention to collaborate with telecommunications companies to offer reduced data prices.
We are committed to lowering data costs so that everyone can benefit from increased access,
he stated. The event, organized by the National Youth Authority (NYA) in collaboration with the UN and the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), was themed “From clicks to progress: Youth digital pathways for sustainable development.” It brought together youth from all 16 regions and various youth organizations.
Dr. Bawumia also mentioned that if elected president, he would prioritize training one million youth in digital skills to ensure their full participation in the fourth industrial revolution. He emphasized that digital skills could open up job opportunities globally, regardless of formal education credentials.
As the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the upcoming elections, Dr. Bawumia recognized the digital divide as a major obstacle to progress and stressed the government’s responsibility to address this issue.
He urged the youth to use technology wisely, ethically, and effectively.
Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, praised the NYA’s impact and encouraged support for the government’s digitalization efforts. He urged the youth to fully harness technology for continuous development.
The CEO of the NYA, Pius Enam Hadzide, highlighted that the theme of the conference aimed to showcase how digitalization accelerates the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and explore the roles of various stakeholders in creating a supportive environment for young people.
