The Tripartite Secretariat has taken its advocacy on the implementation of the Tripartite Recommendations to the Ministry of Youth Affairs, urging the ministry to take the lead in enacting a National Youth Development Act.
The meeting, held in the Minister’s office, began with scenario building on the need for a National Youth Development Act that aligns with other institutional legislations to promote sectoral integration.
Tripartite Recommendation 51 states:
“Adopt a National Youth Development Act, similar to GEWE, to provide for at least ten percent of the members in elective and appointive bodies to be youth, using the African standard of up to 35 years old.”
Tripartite Coordinator Mr. Ngolo Katta told the Minister of Youth Affairs that the ministry should take the lead in implementing this recommendation, as well as Recommendation 52, which addresses the participation of youth and persons with disabilities (PWDs) who would be required to pay half of the nomination fees prescribed by the Electoral Commission.
Mr. Katta acknowledged that while the ministry’s workload appeared huge, it was surmountable, given that the implementation of the Tripartite Report recommendations required collaboration across institutions.
He emphasized the need for the Ministry to work closely with the Tripartite Secretariat, the Office of the Attorney-General, and development partners to support the process.
Public Sector Expert of the Tripartite Secretariat, Mr. Christopher Teh, made a detailed presentation on the recommendations dealing with the ministry and other youth-related issues. He highlighted that developing such an Act would require extensive consultation to make it youth-friendly and issues-focused, while addressing other critical matters affecting young people.
Welcoming the Secretariat, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Morrison Gboyor, expressed the Ministry’s readiness to begin implementation. He disclosed that a Tripartite Implementation Committee would be set up with a focal person assigned, and that a concept paper would be developed to guide the implementation process.
Mr. Gboyor added that the Ministry would soon meet internally on the subject and initiate the process, collaborating with government and lobbying donors to fund the Tripartite-related activities.
