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By Samuel Asamoah
A renewed wave of hope is sweeping through Doryumu in the Shai Osudoku District as traditional authorities, in partnership with Quantum Ideas Ghana and key development actors, roll out a transformative initiative aimed at empowering the youth and curbing social vices.
Traditional leaders at Doryumu are taking decisive steps to reshape the future of young people in the area, combining strict community discipline with tangible opportunities for skills development and economic empowerment.
Alarmed by rising cases of drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and youth idleness, the chiefs and elders have drawn a firm line—warning that any young person who refuses to turn away from social vices will face traditional sanctions.
But beyond the warnings, the leaders are offering a pathway to transformation.
Their resolve has culminated in a strategic partnership with Quantum Ideas Ghana, Rotary International and the Bay City Club of Michigan to establish a Skills and Enterprise Development Centre in the community.
Speaking at the commissioning, the Simpim of Hiowe Gblaka, Nene Afede Oyilagbeye, underscored the readiness of traditional authorities to enforce sanctions against individuals who refuse to abandon social vices, noting that the future of the community depends on a disciplined and productive youth population.
Similarly, Nene Djaase Teye Djaba, Djaase of Doryumu Gbetesie, stressed that the time has come for the youth to make responsible choices and take advantage of opportunities being created for their benefit.
The newly established facility is the result of a four-year collaboration involving Quantum Ideas Ghana, Rotary International and the Bay City Club of Michigan. The project was funded through a Global Grant.
The centre is expected to provide practical, income-generating skills to young people within Doryumu and surrounding communities, with a focus on entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
Lead at Quantum Ideas Ghana, Anne Ethel Komlaga, explained that the initiative is built on a sustainability model designed to ensure long-term impact.
Under this model, trainees will not only acquire skills but also engage in the production and sale of goods, enabling them to generate income for themselves while contributing to the maintenance of the centre.
“This is not just a training centre; it is a livelihood hub that empowers young people to become economically independent,” she noted.
Assistant Governor of the Rotary Club of Akosombo-Dam City, Joseph Dzamesi, said the intervention is expected to significantly reduce the vulnerability of young people to negative social influences.
He added that by equipping the youth with employable skills, the project will help address unemployment and improve socio-economic conditions in the area.
Traditional leaders have emphasized that the long-term success of the initiative will depend largely on the willingness of the youth to embrace the opportunity and commit to personal development.
They also used the occasion to call for the establishment of a Rotary Community Corps in Doryumu to help sustain development interventions and deepen community participation.
The commissioning ceremony brought together traditional authorities, development partners and residents, marking what stakeholders describe as a renewed commitment to tackling social vices and building a more productive future for the youth in Shai Osudoku.
