The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of As I Grow, a Ghanaian humanitarian Non-Governmental Organisation, Mr. Isaac Debrah Bekoe, has raised serious concerns about the alarming decline in moral standards among the youth in Ghana.
Addressing the media during a community outreach campaign aimed at safeguarding the future of young Ghanaians, Mr. Isaac Debrah Bekoe posed a provocative but important question: “Who do we blame for the moral decay consuming the younger generation?”
Mr. Isaac Debrah Bekoe expressed grave worry over what he described as a “tremendous fall in moral values” in Ghana, especially among the youth, adding that research conducted by his outfit revealed that a high number of young people are currently engaging in social vices.
The Founder of As I Grow mentioned drug and substance abuse, prostitution and transactional sex, robbery and theft, internet fraud, gambling and gaming addiction and school dropout and teenage pregnancies.
He attributed this troubling trend to a glaring neglect by key stakeholders including parents, community leaders, educators and government institutions who have failed to provide the moral guidance, mentorship and opportunities necessary for the holistic development of the youth.
“Our young people are talented, passionate and ambitious. However, they are being suffocated by lack of access to quality education, structured mentorship and platforms to realise their dreams,” the CEO of As I Grow lamented.
According to the findings presented by As I Grow, several interconnected factors have led to the ongoing erosion of societal values of increasing absenteeism of parents, poor parenting practices and family breakdowns have left many young people without moral compasses.
It was further discovered that opinion leaders, chiefs and even religious institutions are no longer as proactive in guiding youth behavior and shaping ethical societal norms, as well as high youth unemployment, poverty and lack of access to education have driven many into risky behaviours just to survive.
The rest are a significant gap in structured mentoring systems, leaving many young people to rely on peer pressure or social media influences whilst cultural practices and traditional moral teachings that once upheld discipline and communal responsibility are fading fast.
In response to this crisis, As I Grow NGO has intensified its mentorship and advocacy programs in both schools and communities to provide life skills training and emotional intelligence development.
The rest of the mentorship and advocacy programs are to foster civic responsibility and patriotic behavior, encourage entrepreneurship and career exploration, promote values such as integrity, respect, discipline and empathy.
Through its flagship campaigns, workshops, and grassroots engagements, the NGO is already making a measurable difference in the lives of several young Ghanaians across different districts.
He urged all stakeholders, policy makers, parents, churches, mosques, traditional authorities, and civil society to unite and rebuild a value-driven Ghana, starting from the grassroots.
He further encouraged the youth to embrace values of self-efficacy, positive thinking, confidence, determination, and competence as guiding principles for their personal development.
