Volta Youth Development Fund Launched to Combat Unemployment

A new chapter in the Volta Region’s push to tackle youth unemployment opened on Monday, as Regional Minister James Gunu inaugurated the Board of Trustees of the newly established Volta Youth Development Fund at his office in Ho.

The swearing-in, which took place on April 20, 2026, marks a significant administrative step for an initiative that was officially launched last month at the G.M. Afeti Auditorium. The Fund is designed to serve as a long-term vehicle for youth empowerment, channeling resources toward skills development, entrepreneurship, and economic self-reliance among young people in the region.

A group of five individuals in a meeting room, engaging in conversation with one person extending their hand for a handshake. The setting includes chairs around a table and features decorations related to the Republic of Ghana.

Speaking at the ceremony, Gunu framed the moment as one of collective resolve and forward-looking purpose, describing it as “a defining step in our collective effort to invest in the future of our youth.”

He wasted no time setting expectations for the incoming board, calling on its members to anchor their work in accountability and purpose. “I charged the Board to serve with integrity, transparency, and a strong sense of purpose as they oversee the effective management of the Fund,” he stated.

Leading the Board is Togbe Komla Sakpiti V, who serves as Chairman. The Administrator role falls to Stephine K.D. Timinca, an accountant by profession. Rounding out the board is a cross-section of professionals drawn from academia, civil society, and the private sector, among them Dr Stanley Nelvis Glate and Dr Laurenda Adiasany, both affiliated with Ho Technical University; Aretha A. Agbeyome, Proprietress of Arey-Smart; Jones Amegashie-Viglo, Executive Director of Youth Impact Parliament; and Emmanuel K. Mensah, an ADR practitioner and project manager.

Group of people gathered around a conference table in an office setting, discussing matters, with a serious conversation in progress. Some individuals are taking notes and using mobile devices.

Gunu expressed confidence that the board’s varied professional backgrounds would strengthen both the governance and the on-the-ground delivery of the Fund’s mandate.

Beyond the board itself, the Minister cast a wider net, calling on businesses, development partners and Ghanaians in the diaspora to throw their weight behind the initiative. “I also used the opportunity to call on corporate institutions, development partners, individuals, and our brothers and sisters in the diaspora to support this initiative. I am encouraged by the generous contributions already made,” he said.

His message to the region’s youth was equally direct, urging them to treat the Fund not as a handout, but as a launching pad. “Use it responsibly, build your skills, and strive to become innovative and self-reliant,” he advised.

The Volta Youth Development Fund is expected to grow into a sustained mechanism for addressing unemployment while driving inclusive economic growth across the region.