Accra: Mrs Comfort Ocran, the Executive Director of the Springboard Road Show Foundation, has reminded young people that they are not only the leaders of tomorrow but the changemakers of today. She emphasized that “the future is here, and the future starts now.”
According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs Ocran made these remarks during the celebration of this year’s International Youth Day with young people in Accra. She stressed that the day should be seen as more than just a date on the calendar; it is a call to action. The 2025 celebration carried the theme: ‘Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond.’
The event also served as the launch platform for the Teenpreneurship Bootcamp under the theme: ‘Next Is Now.’ Mrs Ocran encouraged participants to take the global goals and make them real within their own communities. The program, which was organized at no cost to its 300 participants, aims to equip teenagers with vital skills and the confidence to act immediately. She noted that embracing entrepreneurship, innovation, and practical problem-solving today allows young people to invest in their futures while contributing to sustainable development.
During the event, the second edition of Impact Stories under the Ghana Grows Programme, titled ‘Rays of Hope,’ was unveiled. These stories highlight the resilience and achievements of young women and men who are transforming agriculture, breaking barriers, and creating local solutions with both national and global relevance.
Mrs Ocran revealed that the Ghana Grows Programme has impacted over 448,000 young people, with 76 percent being young women and 1.91 percent being persons with disabilities. Through this initiative, 20,000 young people have secured jobs and sustainable livelihoods, and more than 2,400 Youth Ambassadors have been trained to champion agriculture and entrepreneurship nationwide.
In addition, the extended Empower 360 component of the Ghana Grows Programme has equipped over 1,116 young women with practical skills and provided 156 young participants with startup kits to launch their own businesses. The Ghana Grows Programme is implemented by the Mastercard Foundation in partnership with a consortium led by the Springboard Road Show Foundation, focusing on opportunities in agriculture, agribusiness, and ATVET.
Mr. Joseph Boateng, Lead, Market to Impact at the Mastercard Foundation, remarked that the SDGs are not distant targets but lived realities in various communities. As the world marks International Youth Day, he urged a commitment to turning ideas into enterprises and passion into policy.
Reverend Albert Ocran, Technical Director of the Springboard Road Show Foundation, also encouraged participants to take deliberate action for self-development, stating that “inspiration without execution is only a dream.” He emphasized that today’s actions and pursuits will define tomorrow’s world.