By Celestine Avi and Seth Eyiah
The Head of State Award Scheme Ghana has honoured 336 young people with Gold Awards for 2025 at a ceremony held in Accra. Of the total, 217 were females and 119 males, while 15 individuals and seven institutions received special honours for their outstanding contributions.
The Head of State Award Scheme, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, was established in 1967 to instil values of volunteering, patriotism, and discipline in young people, empowering them to positively impact their communities.
This year’s ceremony was held under the theme: “Equip, Empower, Excel: Building Brighter Futures Through Opportunities.” President John Dramani Mahama, the Chief Patron of the scheme, said the theme goes beyond a slogan, describing it as a national mandate anchored in opportunity, inclusion, and productivity.
He added that the awards ceremony is not merely about medals and certificates, but a recognition of discipline, resilience, leadership, and service among young people.
President Mahama also announced that the scheme aims to reach 100,000 young people over the next three years, describing the target as ambitious but necessary to drive national development.
He stressed that while education remains key to success, skills development is the engine of economic transformation. Ghana’s youthful population, he noted, is the country’s greatest asset, but it could become a liability if decisive steps are not taken to harness its potential.
The President further highlighted that the government is strengthening youth-focused institutions, including the establishment of the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment to coordinate policies, eliminate fragmentation, and deliver measurable results.
Gold Award recipients, drawn largely from senior high schools across the country, were urged to remain disciplined, contribute meaningfully to their communities, and lead exemplary lives.
Looking ahead, the Head of State Award Scheme Ghana plans to expand its reach to all 16 regions as it prepares to mark 70 years of existence.
