Cohort 5 in a group picture with UNFPA Country Rep. & Dignatries
Story by: Ishmael Barfi
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Ghana, according to the Country Representative, Dr. Wilfred Ochan is committed to ensuring young people have the platform to learn, share, participate as well engage to unleash their potential and skills in UNFPA’s quest of not leaving no one behind.
This he said enhances the skills and knowledge of young people in UNFPA’s areas of work aimed at achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health, promoting reproductive rights, and reducing maternal mortality by accelerating progress on the ICPD agenda and MDG5(A&B).
“Over the past five years, UNFPA has facilitated strategic training for young people, proving to be a viable incubation ground for over 80 diverse leaders”, he reiterated.
He therefore underscored the program’s commitment to diversity, revealing that the latest cohort comprises 60% females, 40% males, and an 8% representation of persons with disabilities to mirror Ghana’s demographic profile.
Young people he indicated need to be allowed to use innovation, technology, exceptional work ethics, and confidence to accelerate efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Cohort 5 in a group picture with UNFPA Country Rep. & Dignitaries
The United Nations Country Representative, Dr. Wilfred Ochan made this disclosure at the Induction of the 5th Cohort of its Youth fellowship, Youth Leaders (YoLe) Fellows, and the Graduation of the 4th Cohort on Friday, 15th December 2023 at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra.
The YoLe Fellowship Is a year-long program aimed to empower Fellows to be ICPD ambassadors for UNFPA’s mandate by building the capacity of young people for the job market including the UN system by providing opportunities for professional and career development as well as training in driving health-innovation.
For the 5th Cohort, 33 young professionals were inducted while the 4th Cohort fellows were honored and awarded Certificate of Completion as well for their enormous contribution and impact in the areas of zero gender-based violence, zero unmet need, and zero preventable maternal death, among others, within their one-year service in that regard was acknowledged.
In the 4th Cohort, Dr. Wilfred Ochan pointed out that, exhibited a high sense of commitment and availed themselves to be nurtured and transformed into world-class leaders, hence change makers.
He further acknowledged that the numerous transformations of the 4th Cohort fellows would greatly influence and positively impact society, hence an enabling environment where no one is left behind.
“We are proud of your dedication and display of the UNFPA core values, which you have imbibed so excellently. There is no doubt that the prospect of each one of you is great, and we look forward to all the great stories,” he reiterated.
Touching on their roles as ambassadors of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), the UNFPA Country Representative was of the view that, YoLe fellows deserve the ambassadorial roles since it enables youth participation and acceleration of demographic dividend attainments.
Country Representative Dr. Wilfred Ochan presenting Certificate of Completion to a Cohort 4 member
To the 4th Cohort, he urged them to be the torch bearer of change saying “Today, we hand back to you the challenge of taking on the world and making your voice as a young person heard and allowed to thrive.”
For the 5th Cohort, Dr Wilfred Ochan noted that UNFPA Ghana recognizes the potential in them as well as their readiness to unleash these potentials via training mentorship exposure as well hands-on experience opportunities.
“It is not just a ceremony but a community of nurturing diverse young leaders, and amongst friends and colleagues eager to see themselves emerge. As YoLe Fellows, your participation makes you torchbearers of a movement that is breaking barriers and challenging norms,” he admonished.
In that regard, he was optimistic that, the holistic approach of equipping them with knowledge and skills in leadership and advocacy, alongside diverse professional training opportunities, will be the spark that continues to light their way in creating lasting change.
For young professionals to excel and be abreast in today’s fast-paced world, innovation, and technology he noted have become indispensable tools for progress that “UNFPA seeks to enable the youth to acquire all the skills needed to thrive in this fast-challenging global space”.
He therefore urged, advised, and encouraged them to explore all avenues, leveraging technological advancements to acknowledge the impact they can collectively make.
“You have the world at your fingertips, and your ability to harness the power of technology can drive change at a transformative pace,” he charged.
UNFPA Ghana Committed to the Empowerment of Young People
On his part, Mohammed Sharif Yakubu, a member of the 5th Cohort in an acceptance speech on behalf of his colleagues acknowledged the program’s alignment with the United Nations Youth Strategy, which calls on UN Agencies to “increase impact and expand global, regional, and country-level action to address the needs, build agency, and advance the rights of young people in their diversity”.
Furthermore, relevant in helping the Government of Ghana to achieve its its priorities on youth development, economic and financial empowerment of young people as well as sexual and reproductive health.
Expressing her excitement and zeal to make an impact in the lives of patients she encounters in emergency rooms and outpatient departments, Dr. Harriette Ampofo recognized the critical gaps in knowledge, especially among women.
To her, joining the UNFPA YoLe Cohort 5 program is to aid her in acquiring more knowledge as well as joining the advocacy for better sexual and reproductive health services.
And the above she said was necessitated because “I have had personal encounters with patients who were in great need of sexual and reproductive health. Both in emergency rooms and outpatient departments and nurses that the level of knowledge when it comes to sexual reproductive health is quite low, especially among women, and even the parts take decisions to save their own lives.”.
Dr. Ampofo, who is not only a medical doctor but also engages in data science, coding for Python, and data analysis, envisions expanding her skill set during her tenure in the program.
Working within the United Nations environment, she aims to deepen her understanding of its dynamics, programs, and intricacies. Moreover, she aspires to leverage her multifaceted expertise, combining medical knowledge with data science, to contribute effectively to the program’s evaluation and monitoring department.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
