GYF President Joins Ghana Delegation at International Youth Festival in Russia

The President of the Ghana Youth Federation, Sherif Ghali, joined Ghana’s Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment and heads of key youth agencies in Yekaterinburg, Russia, for the International Youth Festival 2026. The international gathering brought together young leaders, policymakers, youth institutions and development actors from different countries to exchange ideas, build partnerships and explore new approaches to youth development. As part of Ghana’s participation, the delegation engaged counterparts from several countries through bilateral discussions focused on youth cooperation, institutional partnerships, knowledge exchange and opportunities for young people. Among the engagements was a meeting with the Mozambican delegation, during which the Mozambican Minister responsible for youth presented a memoir of the President of Mozambique to Ghana’s Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment. The President of the Youth Council of Mozambique also presented a copy to Sherif Ghali as his counterpart and President of the Ghana Youth Federation. The Ghanaian delegation also engaged representatives from the United Arab Emirates, with discussions centred on strengthening cooperation and exploring potential partnerships in areas relevant to youth development. For the Ghana Youth Federation, the Festival provided an important opportunity to learn from international youth-development models, establish relationships with youth institutions from other countries and identify partnerships that can contribute to opportunities for young people in Ghana. Speaking on the engagement, Sherif Ghali emphasised the importance of ensuring that Ghana’s participation in international platforms produces tangible outcomes for young people at home. The Ghana Youth Federation remains committed to strengthening Ghanaian youth participation in global platforms, promoting international cooperation and building partnerships that support the development and empowerment of young people across the country.