The Ghana Youth Federation (GYF) has called for immediate presidential and parliamentary intervention following what it describes as the exclusion of key youth-focused institutions from the 2026 District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) allocation formula.

In a strongly worded statement, the group expressed deep concern over the omission of the Youth Employment Agency(YEA) and the National Youth Authority (NYA), stressing that the decision contradicts Ghana’s legal and policy framework on youth development.

According to the Federation, both institutions are statutory bodies established by Acts of Parliament with clear mandates to deliver employment, skills development, and youth empowerment at scale, and therefore cannot be treated as optional in national funding decisions.

The group noted that despite a total DACF allocation of approximately GHS8.7 billion for 2026, there is no clearly defined or ring-fenced funding for either the YEA or NYA, describing the situation as a “fundamental policy failure.”

“At a time when youth unemployment remains one of Ghana’s most urgent national challenges, this decision exposes a dangerous disconnect between government commitments and actual resource allocation,” the statement said.

The Federation further linked rising unemployment pressures to recent mass applications for limited recruitment opportunities in the security services, warning that such trends reflect systemic strain driven by underfunded youth support systems.

Key Demands

The GYF is demanding an immediate review of the 2026 DACF formula to include specific, ring-fenced allocations for both institutions before disbursement begins.

It also called for high-level policy alignment, urging the Office of the President to ensure coordination between the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, the Ministry of Finance, and the DACF Administrator to align funding decisions with national youth priorities.

Additionally, the group appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene decisively to correct the omission. It also urged the Parliament of Ghana, led by the Speaker, to exercise oversight on the DACF allocation policy and ensure that the interests of young people are protected.

The Federation warned that excluding youth institutions from one of the country’s most critical development funds is unsustainable economically, socially, and politically.

It concluded by stating that it would pursue all legitimate constitutional and civic avenues to ensure that Ghana’s youth receive their fair share of national development financing.