West African officials adopt roadmap to tackle youth unemployment

Senior officials and experts from West Africa have concluded regional meetings in Freetown and Accra aimed at addressing youth unemployment and enhancing regional stability. During the 29th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee in Sierra Leone, delegates adopted the Freetown Declaration on Youth Employment. This roadmap emphasizes increased investment in employment-generating sectors, improved alignment between education and labor markets, and the expansion of digital and entrepreneurial skills.

Discussions highlighted agriculture as a critical sector for job creation, with representatives calling for modernized farming, better access to land, and increased financing for young entrepreneurs. Sierra Leone officials noted a national target to create at least 500,000 jobs for young people by 2030 through initiatives like the Feed Salone program.

In a separate ministerial consultation in Ghana, ECOWAS members focused on the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Agenda. Leaders called for stronger regional cooperation and increased youth participation in governance and peacebuilding to bridge the gap between policy commitments and practical implementation across the subregion.