Young delegates from six African countries adopted the Accra Youth Communique on trade, governance and security at a symposium held in Accra from 19 to 23 August 2026.
The organisers, Youth Arise Organization, now plan to send the document to youth ministries across the continent and set up a central registry to track whether its recommendations are acted on. Ghana’s capital hosted the Africa We Want Symposium as part of the Orange Youth Festival.
Delegates came from Ghana, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria and Liberia. Through discussions and policy lab sessions, they built their recommendations around the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the continent’s 50-year development blueprint adopted in 2015.
The communique covers intra-African trade and economic integration; governance, political participation and accountability; peace, security and social cohesion; African culture, identity and heritage; and people-driven development, including gender equality and inclusion.
It calls for fewer barriers to trade and free movement across African borders, better infrastructure and digital connectivity, and a greater role for young people in governance. The delegates also asked for tougher anti-corruption measures, responsible digital citizenship, support for African creative industries, protection of indigenous languages and heritage, and more inclusive development.
The international delegations pledged to promote the communique in their home countries.
Moses Baffour Awuah, Global Chief Executive Officer of Youth Arise Organization, said the document would go to youth-focused ministries and other stakeholders across Africa for implementation. He said the registry would record initiatives and commitments arising from the recommendations so that progress could be measured.
Youth Arise did not say when the registry would be launched or which ministries would receive the communique first.
