2026 National Youth Conference: Osman Ayariga calls on youth to harness technology for development

Speaking at the opening of the 2026 National Youth Conference at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi on Tuesday, August 11, Mr Ayariga said the widespread access to smartphones, digital platforms and global networks had given young people unprecedented opportunities to learn, innovate and influence society.

He urged participants to use the conference to ask difficult questions, share experiences from their communities and engage policymakers constructively, saying young people should recognise that they already had a place in national decision-making.

The NYA CEO said young people should not allow themselves to be defined as a problem for society, arguing that their energy, creativity and access to technology could become powerful tools for national transformation.