Vice-President Opoku-Agyemang Urges Youth Leadership as African Interest Surges for 2026 Global Festival

Vice-President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called on young people across West Africa to believe in their inherent potential to shape the future of the sub-region. Speaking at the West Africa Youth Days celebration in Accra, the Vice-President emphasized that despite the mounting pressures of economic instability and climate change, youth remains the most critical demographic for driving transformation. Organized by the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) and the Ghana National Catholic Youth Council, the event aimed to empower young leaders to become active agents of peace and unity within their respective communities.

This call for local leadership comes as African youth increasingly seek out global platforms to amplify their voices. Preparations are already underway for the 2026 International Festival of Youth, scheduled to take place in Yekaterinburg, Russia, from September 11 to 17. The festival is expected to gather 10,000 young leaders from 191 countries, split equally between Russian and international delegates. Africa has demonstrated significant interest in the event, accounting for over 3,300 applications to date. Ethiopia leads the continent with 475 applicants, closely followed by Nigeria with 471, Tanzania with 401, and South Africa with 87.

The 2026 festival will place a heavy emphasis on journalism and digital storytelling through its dedicated 'Media Stream.' This segment will feature high-level discussions with prominent figures, including South African media executive Ayanda Hollow and Tanzanian doctor Crecensia Peter Mashauri. Beyond traditional media, the program will offer hands-on workshops in artificial intelligence and creative content production. These sessions are designed to equip young professionals with the tools needed for the modern digital landscape, building on the success of the 2024 World Youth Festival, which hosted 20,000 participants.

As Ghana and the wider continent look toward the future, both local and international initiatives highlight a unified message: the youth are no longer just future leaders, but current catalysts for change. Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, echoed this sentiment, noting that the transformative potential of the youth is essential for regional stability. Whether through community-based peacebuilding in West Africa or international knowledge-sharing in Yekaterinburg, the focus remains on equipping the next generation with the skills and confidence to navigate a complex global environment.