In a historic step towards embedding young voices into high-level democratic governance, the Africa Governance Centre (AGC) has officially unveiled the newly constituted Steering Committee for the African Youth in Politics Forum (AYPF) for the 2027–2030 term.
Announced following the successful 2026 African Political Parties Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this continental body gathers prominent policymakers, party leaders, and youth champions from across Africa.
Hon. Emmanuel Okai Mintah, Chairperson of the Youth Working Committee of Ghana’s National Democratic Congress (NDC), has been named to the committee alongside fellow Ghanaian Ms. Chleo-Patra A. Azantilow Esq, who serves as Executive SecretaryThe establishment of the 2027–2030 AYPF Steering Committee represents a crucial transition from periodic youth gatherings to sustained, measurable political advocacy across the African continent.
Convened by the Secretariat of the African Youth in Politics Forum under the Africa Governance Centre, the new committee unites a high-level cohort of leaders representing diverse nations, including Ethiopia, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Tanzania, Cameroon, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Algeria, and Ghana.
Among the notable figures joining Okai Mintah on the 13-member committee are Hon. Dr. Akilu Tadesa, Ethiopia's Minister of Youth and Sports; Mr. Daniel Obal, Special Presidential Aide on Youth in Uganda; Mr. Dayo Israel, National Youth Leader of Nigeria's All Progressives Congress; Hon. Ing. Francis Alpha Kallon, Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Young Generation Leader of Sierra Leone's SLPP; and Ms. Petrider Paul, Chairperson of the Youth Connekt Africa Youth Advisory Council in Tanzania.
For Ghana, Emmanuel Okai Mintah’s inclusion comes at a pivotal juncture in his political trajectory, coinciding with his campaign to become the next National Youth Organizer of the National Democratic Congress.
His appointment to this prestigious continental body reinforces his commitment to advancing youth political organization, leadership development, and democratic participation both within Ghana and across Africa.
Alongside Ms. Chleo-Patra A. Azantilow Esq, who executes key administrative leadership as Executive Secretary to the committee, Ghana's delegation is positioned to channel the nation's rich democratic experience into continental policy reform.
Over its four-year mandate from 2027 to 2030, the Steering Committee is tasked with delivering strategic leadership to the Forum, strengthening youth representation within political party structures, fostering intergenerational political dialogue, and converting summit recommendations into enforceable policies.
Crucially, the committee will confront the steep structural obstacles that hinder young aspirants, most notably the escalating financial cost of political campaigns, entrenched gatekeeping in party executive committees, and the persistent disconnect between youth aspirations and governance outcomes.
Emphasizing the necessity of this shift, the Africa Governance Centre issued a powerful statement regarding the committee's mandate:
Africa's democratic transformation requires more than the recognition of young people as future leaders. It demands their meaningful inclusion in the institutions and decisions shaping the continent today.
By uniting young leaders from across ruling and opposition parties, the committee establishes an influential, non-partisan platform focused on building accountable, inclusive, and responsive political institutions across the continent.
The appointment of Okai Mintah and the inauguration of the AYPF Steering Committee mark a powerful milestone for youth political empowerment in Ghana and across Africa.
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By securing direct representation in continental governance platforms, young leaders are demonstrating that youth inclusion is no longer an afterthought—it is the engine of Africa's democratic future.
As the 2027–2030 mandate begins, young Africans must actively engage with these institutional frameworks, hold political parties accountable, and advocate for progressive policy reforms.
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