Calls grow for youth inclusion in agriculture at Pan-African conference in Ghana

Over 300 young leaders, policymakers, and industry stakeholders gathered in Accra, Ghana, for the fifth edition of the Yale Model African Union Conference, a three-day forum focused on youth engagement, policy development, and innovation across the continent.

The conference, held from March 13 to 15, 2026, was themed “Imagine, challenge and build the Africa we want,” and featured African Union committee simulations, leadership workshops, an innovation pitch contest, and a career fair aimed at bridging policy ideas with enterprise solutions.

A key highlight was a panel session on the intersection of creativity, policy, and business, where speakers examined how collaboration between governments and the private sector can accelerate sustainable development.

Among the speakers was Dennis Sampong, Country Director of Fludor Ghana, who called for greater youth participation in agriculture, particularly in Ghana’s cocoa sector.

Sampong noted that Africa’s demographic structure places young people at the centre of its development trajectory, stressing that policies and investments must reflect this reality.

He also raised concerns about the ageing population of cocoa farmers, estimating the average age between 55 and 60 years, and called for the adoption of modern farming technologies to attract younger participants into the sector.

According to him, improving productivity and sustainability in agriculture will depend on equipping young people with the tools, training, and incentives needed to engage meaningfully in value chains.

Other panellists, including Audrey S-Darko, Chief Executive Officer of Sabon Sake, and Jide Pratt, Country Pilot Manager at TradeGrid, highlighted the importance of translating policy frameworks into practical, market-driven solutions. The session was moderated by Ericka K. Tenta of the Yale Africa Startup Review.

The conference also featured keynote addresses from Tara Squire of Ecobank Ghana and Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere of the Ghana Council on Foreign Affairs, alongside contributions from government officials and regional policy experts.

Organisers said the annual gathering continues to serve as a platform for equipping young Africans with the skills and networks required to participate in governance and economic transformation across the continent.