STATE OF THE YOUTH ADDRESS (SOYA) 2025

Esi Mansa Oklu is a seasoned and results-driven Senior Officer with over 16 years of experience in management, administration, human resource development and strategic leadership within the Civil Service. She demonstrates to operational excellence, institutional efficiency and public sector transformation through policy implementation and a people-centered leadership.

She possesses a strong academic background with a Master of Arts Degree in Management and Administration from the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), a Post-Graduate Certificate in Public Administration from the Ghana institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography and Resource Development from the University of Ghana (UG) , offering a unique blend of technical insight and strategic planning capabilities.

She is adept at overseeing administrative operations, aligning organizational objectives with national policy frameworks and fostering a high performance culture within government institutions.

Esi Mansa Oklu also holds professional qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Administrators and Management Consultants (CIAMC) and is recognized as a Chartered Professional Administrator and a Chartered Management Consultant.

Esi Mansa Oklu is currently serving as the Director of General Administration for the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment.

Regina Amoo is an experienced Civil Servant with over 15 years of experience in Internal Auditing and over 10 years in leading audit teams. Prior to her posting to Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, she led Internal Audit Function in a critical role, ensuring accountability, transparency and good governance for the Ministry of Defence and its Agencies,as well as Ministry of Tourism and Creative Arts and its Agencies. She has leveraged her expertise to improve audit processes, develop capacity and provide assurance on the effectiveness of internal controls and risk management.

As a results-driven leader, Regina brings a collaborative and strategic approach to internal audit. She is committed to fostering a culture of transparency and accountability.

Regina has won two Civil Service Awards in the Director Categories and received five letters of commendation for her outstanding performance. She is a Chartered Accountant with membership in the Institute of Chartered Accountant, Ghana and Institute of Internal Auditors. She holds Bachelor Degree in Business Administration with a Major in Accounting from Valley View University, Ghana and Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a major in Management from Delta International University, USA.

Her areas of expertise include Public Financial Management, International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), Risk Management and Control.  She has served on the Audit Committee of Public Procurement Authority (PPA) and Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC).  Additionally, she has contributed to development of the Internal Audit profession through her involvement as a member of the Chapter and Sector Relations Development Committee of the Institute of Internal Auditors, Ghana.

Her expertise in Risk Management, Internal Controls and Public Financial Management has been invaluable to the organisations she has served.  Through her leadership and dedication, she continues to make significant contributions to promoting Good Governance and Accountability in the Public Sector.

Hon. George Opare Addo, Esq., is Ghana’s first Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, appointed in 2025 by President John Dramani Mahama. A lawyer and experienced public servant, he is serving his second term as the National Youth Organizer of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), where he has promoted innovative youth-led strategies, including the historic launch of Ghana’s first Youth Manifesto. His efforts have greatly energized the party’s youth base and contributed to the NDC’s landmark victory in the 2024 elections.

As Minister, he is spearheading bold initiatives focused on youth employment, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and agribusiness, including the Adwumawura Programme and the National Apprenticeship Programme, both flagship initiatives of this government.

Lawyer Opare Addo started his public service career at age 27, becoming the youngest Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Akuapem North from 2009 to 2017, during which he led major developmental changes. He holds degrees in Philosophy and Psychology from the University of Ghana and in Law and Governance from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), and was called to the Bar in 2019. Widely respected for his progressive outlook and community engagement, he continues to represent Ghana on international youth platforms, reaffirming his strong commitment to empowering young people and making them central to national growth.

Emmanuel Kwakye Kontor is the Director of Policy, Planning, and Budget Monitoring & Evaluation at the Ministry of Youth Development & Empowerment. He leads the technical processes related to policy, planning, budgeting, resource mobilization, and monitoring & evaluation.

He brings a wealth of experience in public sector policy, governance, and financial management. Prior to his current role, Kwakye Kontor led and coordinated the development of several Sector Medium-Term Development Plans, Annual Budgets, and other policies at the Ministry of Health.

He played a leading role in the Public Financial Management Reform Program (PFMAP), contributing significantly to the tracking, planning, and budgeting of public sector resources over several years.

His additional areas of expertise and interest include Health System Strengthening and Financing. Outside of work, he is passionate about promoting education, particularly for underprivileged children.

Kwakye Kontor as Director PPME of MYDE aspires to drive inclusive policies, efficient resource mobilisation, and systems strengthening that empower youth.

Kontor holds a degree in Development Planning from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, a Master’s in Health Economics from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, and a certificate in Budgeting and Financial Management in the Public Sector from Duke University.

Mrs. Emma Ofori Agyemang is a self-motivated and a highly committed female with twenty-eight (28) years of dutiful work experience in the Civil Service of Ghana, with an ambition to excel at what she does.

She believes in a responsive public sector that supports private sector growth and has a passion for turning challenges into great opportunities. For twelve (12) years, she led government processes in policy planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) as Director in charge at the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR).

Mrs. Ofori Agyemang is currently the substantive Chief Director and the Principal Spending Officer at the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment.

Through her experiences, potential, actions and inactions, she hopes to pursue leadership excellence, people excellence, policy excellence, execution and organisational excellence for impact and transformation in the newly created Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment (MYDE), where she heads.

Mrs. Ofori Agyemang holds an M.Phil. in Political Science (Public Administration option) from the University of Ghana, Legon, an Executive Masters in Governance & Leadership (EMGL) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation from Ghana Institute of Management & Public Administration (GIMPA).

She is proudly Presbyterian, married with four (4) children and loves cooking as a hobby.

Joyce Kusi Appiah is the Director for Research, Statistics and Information Management Directorate. She has over 20 years of working experience in the Civil Service.

She worked in the External Resources Mobilization Division, and the General Administration Directorate at the Ministry of Finance from 2006 to 2017.

In 2017 to 2024, she worked in different Directorates at the defunct Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources.

Joyce holds a BSc in Administration (Human Resource) from the School of Administration, University of Ghana, Legon, and an MBA from The Hague University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands).  Additionally, she possesses a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

Her commitment to continuous professional development is evidenced by her extensive training in different courses both locally and internationally.

He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management, Ghana.

Joyce is a dedicated, and a dynamic goal-oriented person who always strives for excellence.

Eric Akuetteh Ahele is a seasoned and results-oriented finance professional with over 18 years of progressive experience in public financial management, treasury operations, financial reporting, and strategic leadership. He has played a pivotal role in strengthening financial governance, implementing reforms, and driving institutional efficiency across multiple high-profile government and international institutions.

He possesses a strong academic foundation with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree. Complementing his academic qualifications, he is a Chartered Accountant and an Oracle E-Business Suite Certified Implementation Specialist, bringing both technical expertise and strategic financial insight to his roles.

Eric has served in several senior capacities, including Director of Finance at the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation, where he manages corporate funds, oversees financial reporting, provides advisory support on fiscal matters, and leads training on public financial management. His international exposure includes serving as Head of Treasury at the Embassy of Ghana in Berlin, Germany, where he managed embassy funds, enhanced revenue generation measures, and advised management on financial strategies.

At the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD), Eric has held key leadership positions. Notably, he was Project Manager for the IPSAS Secretariat, where he successfully established the secretariat, coordinated donor funding, developed and executed workplans, and trained entities on IPSAS implementation. As GIFMIS Financials Reporting Lead, he spearheaded the transition of the chart of accounts, resolved complex reporting challenges, and facilitated the integration of GIFMIS Financials with Payroll. In addition, he served as Deputy Head of the Public Accounts Directorate, preparing national accounts, rationalizing bank accounts with the Bank of Ghana to operationalize the Treasury Single Account, and training staff on financial reporting processes.

His areas of expertise include public financial management reforms, chart of accounts development, financial reporting, treasury operations, and the implementation of integrated financial systems. Among his notable achievements, he has been part of the team that developed the PFM Regulations, migrated historical financial transactions onto GIFMIS, produced the first set of GIFMIS-compliant financial statements, and trained numerous accounting officers in financial report design and configuration. He also contributed to the development of MDA accounting manuals and played a key role in rationalizing Government of Ghana bank accounts, resulting in significant reductions in overdraft interest.

Eric Akuetteh Ahele is widely recognized as a transformational leader in public financial management, with a proven track record of enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in government financial systems.

Mohammed Saani Adams, a policy advocate, a development practitioner, a planner and with specialisation in Public Policy Formulation and Analysis, Institutional Strategies and Alignment, Reengineering as well as Monitoring and Evaluation, is the Technical Director of the Youth Development and Empowerment of the Ministry.

Emerging from higher level qualification in Mathematics, Public Administration, and Development Policy and Planning, he is an advocate for inclusivity and a friend of the youth.  He was one of the famous advocates for the establishment of the Youth Ministry, championed the formulation of the Ghana National Youth Policy (2022-2032) and its Implementation Plan (2022-2027), championed the formulation of the novel Ghana National Service Policy and several other policies within the public sector sphere. He is been instrumental in legislative framework and establishment of several Public Sector Institutions, including the policy framework for the establishment of the National Road Safety Authority, the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau, the Air Navigation Services Agency, the National Anti-doping Agency and others. As a trainer, specialised in Public Policy, Ethical Leadership and Management, Strategic Thinking and Management, Executive Writing (Cabinet Memoranda, Cabinet Information Papers, Parliamentary Responses etc., Director Saani trained an enormous number of Public Servants from diverse Institutions and at varied levels. He personally led the provision of several Policy Recommendations and Analysis to Cabinet and Parliament. He has a high esteem “Bird Eye View” of the issues confronting the youth and the associated solutions required to enhance their potentials and accelerate their contribution to the social-economic development of Ghana.

Evans Selorm Habadah is a seasoned and results-driven Civil Servant with over 25 years of progressive experience in public administration, human resource management, and strategic leadership within the Civil Service. He demonstrates commitment to institutional efficiency, workforce development, and public sector transformation through policy formulation, training, and people-centered leadership.

He possesses a strong academic foundation with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Ghana, complemented by participation in several national and international Public Administration and Human Resource events. This background offers him a unique blend of technical expertise, policy insight, and strategic planning capabilities.

He is adept at designing and implementing strategic human resource policies, aligning institutional goals with national development objectives, and fostering a culture of performance, accountability, and service excellence. Through leadership and ethics training, he has strengthened employee performance management, workforce welfare, and civil service responsibility.

Evans Selorm Habadah is currently serving as the Director of Human Resource at the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, where he has spearheaded major reforms in recruitment, training, career development, and organizational productivity. His leadership philosophy is grounded in the doctrine of “Service with Integrity,” advocating for openness, innovation, and collaborative governance in the public sector.

His professionalism, integrity, and dedication have shaped a legacy of mentoring, policy innovation, and civil service transformation, leaving a lasting impact on Ghana’s public service delivery and institutional development.

Ebenezer Amamoo is a creative, dedicated, and results-oriented Procurement and Supply Chain professional with over eighteen (18) years of extensive experience in public sector procurement, contract management, and supply chain administration. He is committed to operational efficiency, institutional compliance, and the advancement of procurement best practices to support national development goals.

He holds a Master of Science Degree in Procurement and Supply Chain Management from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), a Bachelor’s Degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from Pentecost University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Procurement and Materials Management from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). He is also a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) and has received specialized training in Works and Goods Procurement under the GIMPA/World Bank program.

Ebenezer has served in key roles within various Ministries, including the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology; Office of the Head of Civil Service; Ministry of Communication; Ministry of Transport; and the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs. In these roles, he has provided technical advisory support on procurement cycles, ensured compliance with procurement laws and policies, promoted environmentally sustainable practices, and contributed to capacity building through coaching, mentoring, and performance evaluation of staff.

He has also been instrumental in procurement planning, contract execution, and project delivery, playing pivotal roles in significant national projects. These include the construction of the Ministry of Transport Annex Office Building, the ongoing development of six (6) newly created Regional Houses of Chiefs, and the nationwide distribution of “Better Ghana” laptops to schools and organizations.

Recognized for his strong organizational skills, adaptability, and collaborative spirit, Ebenezer thrives both independently and within teams, consistently driving efficiency and value in procurement processes.

Beyond his professional career, he enjoys listening to music and sightseeing.