UN Food Programme Head Launches NDC Youth Bid
TNR Files
Head of the Food System at the United Nations World Food Programme in Ghana, Steven Nhyira Odarteifio, has formally announced his intention to contest for the position of National Youth Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He made this declaration during a press conference held at the Ghana International Press Centre on Monday, September 14, 2026. Ghana election updates
Addressing the media, Mr. Odarteifio expressed a sense of responsibility towards the millions of young men and women in Ghana who have placed their hopes, expectations, and confidence in President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC. He emphasized that their votes are cast in belief in a Ghana characterized by opportunity, dignity, and possibility, where an individual’s ideas can matter regardless of their prominence.
He acknowledged ongoing initiatives such as Adwumawura, the National Apprenticeship Programme, and One Million Coders, which are creating opportunities. However, he noted that programs alone do not change lives unless individuals are aware of them, able to access them, and organized around them. Consequently, he advocated for a new era of youth leadership capable of multiplying, amplifying, and accelerating access to these opportunities.
Mr. Odarteifio underscored the importance of mobilizing the youth wing not solely for political influence but also for economic liberation. He emphasized reaching beyond those already affiliated with the NDC to connect with the millions of young Ghanaians questioning the party’s relevance to their lives—those inspired by the legacies of Jerry John Rawlings, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, and John Dramani Mahama.
Guided by the principles of empathy, innovation, and persistence, Mr. Odarteifio recounted his lifelong commitment to social impact. As a youth, he organized efforts for vulnerable children and transformed a struggling public school at age twenty. His subsequent interventions in agriculture, enterprise, and youth development have benefited over 100,000 young Ghanaians, improving livelihoods across the country.
His initiatives have included supporting agricultural economic zones, deploying agricultural equipment, assisting local artisans, promoting opportunities for women processors and young farmers, and strengthening agricultural education at tertiary institutions. When discussing youth empowerment, Mr. Odarteifio stressed that he draws from real-world experience, having built solutions for pressing challenges and persisted through setbacks.
He expressed confidence that his leadership could inspire and empower the youth wing to impact one million more young people before the conclusion of President Mahama’s administration. His vision involves connecting young people to capital, skills, enterprise, agriculture, technology, and markets, as well as mobilizing support for productive agricultural enclaves and unlocking numerous opportunities. Ghana election updates
He articulated a desire for a youth wing that is not solely focused on election mobilization but also on creating sustainable opportunities throughout the electoral cycle. His aim is to transform political influence into economic opportunity, believing that empowered youth will secure continued support for the NDC, thus maintaining twenty years of consecutive power.
Mr. Odarteifio highlighted the current crossroads facing Ghana, where leadership will be judged by the depth of ideas or financial influence. He questioned whether an unknown name must remain obscure due to lack of prominence, and whether young individuals must first attain wealth, connections, or fame before their ideas are acknowledged. He expressed his conviction that this should not be the path for the NDC or Ghanaian politics.
Drawing inspiration from historical figures such as Yaa Asantewaa, Kwame Nkrumah, and Jerry John Rawlings, he emphasized the importance of leadership that mobilizes and inspires collective action.
Announcing his candidacy with humility, Mr. Odarteifio expressed gratitude for those who counselled and supported him, respect for predecessors, and unwavering faith in Ghanaian youth, Africans, and the Diaspora.
He addressed young colleagues who feel overlooked, grassroots supporters who feel neglected, unemployed graduates, entrepreneurs facing challenges, and local organizers questioning the impact of their sacrifices. He assured them that their future is not defined by others’ perceptions but should be judged by their ideas, service, character, and impact.
He emphasized that persistent inequality and neglect sustain a culture of limited opportunity. His motivation to contest is rooted in a desire to support President Mahama’s mission to create opportunities that afford young Ghanaians dignity and economic independence, so future leaders within the party can rise without resorting to unethical means.
Finally, Mr. Odarteifio expressed his belief that his presence demonstrates that a young person with a message, a track record, resources, and a community of supporters can organize, rise, and lead. He asserted that the NDC must lead a new wave in Ghanaian politics, reflecting the legacy of Jerry Rawlings and the visions of President Mills and President Mahama. Ghana election updates.