The 6th National Youth Quadrennial Delegates conference was yesterday held in Tema.The conference is a prelude to the 12th Quadrennial Delegates' Conference of the National Union which serves as a forum for stock-taking on the activities of the National Youth Committee for the past four (4) years, and reconstitute the National Youth Executive for the ensuing quadrennial conference.Delivering the keynote address, the General Secretary of Industrial Commercial Workers Union (ICU), Mr Morgan Ayawine, said the Union was expected to nurture and groom the youth to play productive and responsible roles not only at the workplace but at the national level as well.With a full-fledged Education Department with capable human resources, Mr Ayawine said, the Union had the capacity to shape and mentor young generation through different forms of trade union training and retraining programmes."Some youth in our part of the world today, aspire to reach the highest point in whatever positions they find themselves without subjecting themselves to adequate training necessary to build and prepare them for such positions.
This trend tends to impact negatively not only on their performance but the productivity of their organisations," Mr Ayawine lamented."It is important that, as future leaders, you take part in such training programmes that may be designed to broaden your knowledge and skills in trade unionism and the world of work amidst its complexities," he advised.Mr Ayawine urged the youth, both in and outside of trade unions, not to indulge in unproductive activities especially social vices arising out of youthful exuberance that would negatively impact their future progress.Rather, he advised this group to guard themselves against any conduct or practices that would jeopardise their future ascension to higher positions of responsibility, as every workplace environment holds you accountable for the productive outcomes of its operations.Mr Ayawine lamented about the current rate of youth unemployment which he said: "is of grave concern to us as a trade union which advocates for job creation and sustainable employment for the youth".He appealed to the government to create an enabling environment for businesses and industry within the public and private sectors to create more and sustainable jobs to absorb the teeming unemployed youth to protect and secure their future."Once we have majority of our youth in gainful employment, the national economy would witness a quick turnaround that ensures massive development of our country," he said.The Head of Youth and Gender Desk of ICU, Mrs Esinam Afua Poku, assured that her leadership would work hard to promote gender equity and empower the youth across all sectors of the organisation.Over the past four years, she said the desk has implemented numerous programmes and advocacy initiatives aimed at strengthening the participation of women and young people in decision-making, capacity building, leadership development, and social transformation. OM CYNTHIA ASAMPANA, TEMA
