The groups—including the Northern Regional Youth Network, North East Regional Youth Network, ACTIVISTA, the Northern Regional Youth Parliament, and Youth Budget Monitors—submitted the petition on March 30, 2026, to the Speaker of Parliament, with copies sent to key government offices.
At the centre of their complaint is the claim that the approved DACF framework violates existing laws. They cited provisions in the National Youth Authority Act 2016 and the Youth Employment Agency Act 2015, which mandate that 5% and 10% of the DACF be allocated to the National Youth Authority and the Youth Employment Agency respectively. However, despite Parliament approving an 8.7 billion cedi fund on March 17, 2026, neither institution received its legally required share.
The petitioners argue that these allocations are not optional but legally binding, and their omission is inconsistent with Ghanaian law and undermines Parliament’s authority.
They also pointed to a longer trend of declining support for youth institutions. According to their data, funding to the NYA has dropped sharply—from about GH₵85 million in 2018 to roughly GH₵5 million by mid-2025—representing a reduction of over 90%. In effect, the statutory allocation has fallen far below what the law requires, with similar shortfalls affecting the YEA.
Figures from the Ghana Statistical Service show that young people account for a large share of unemployment, making the funding gap particularly concerning for northern regions where youth vulnerability is higher.
The groups are asking Parliament to take several actions, including:
Investigating the omission
Directing DACF administrators to comply with the law
Correcting the allocation framework immediately
Publishing detailed data on statutory beneficiaries
Launching a broader parliamentary inquiry into youth financing
Their petition adds to growing pressure on the government. The Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs has also called on John Dramani Mahama to intervene and ensure the proper allocation of funds. Meanwhile, Mahama Tiah Abdul-Kabiru has urged the Finance Ministry and DACF Secretariat to release funds in line with legal requirements, citing findings from a “Follow the Money” tracking initiative.
The petitioners warned that failure to address the issue could worsen youth exclusion and hinder national development, but said they remain willing to work with authorities to promote fair and lawful distribution of resources.
Source: newsghana.com
