The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Mr. Daren Tang has paid a courtesy visit to the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Mr George Opare Addo, aimed at fostering collaboration and building synergies to advance youth development in Ghana and across the African continent.
The meeting which took place on Thursday, in Accra, is also a step toward strengthening ties between Ghana and WIPO with a shared vision of empowering the next generation to harness creativity and innovation as drivers of sustainable development.
Mr. Daren Tang, reaffirmed WIPO’s commitment to supporting initiatives that empower young people through innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
He stressed that intellectual property is a powerful tool for unlocking the potential of youth, enabling them to transform ideas into sustainable businesses and solutions that can drive economic growth.
The Minister explained that the ministry’s mandate is to specifically address issues affecting young people and to take on the dedicated responsibility of advancing their growth and empowerment.
He also stated that, intellectual property is a vital component of youth empowerment, noting that the visit was timely in reinforcing the integration of intellectual property education into training initiatives such as the National Apprenticeship and Adwumawura programs currently being implemented nationwide.
Mr Opare Addo said the Ministry welcomes the partnership, highlighting the importance of equipping Ghanaian youth with the knowledge and resources needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy.
Both sides agreed that strengthening collaboration between their institutions would create valuable opportunities for training and mentorship and granting young innovators access to international platforms to showcase their skills and creativity.
They further committed to pursuing joint initiatives aimed at raising awareness of intellectual property rights among young entrepreneurs and creators, providing targeted support for youth-led startups through IP protection strategies, and fostering knowledge-sharing and capacity-building efforts across Ghana and beyond.
Priscilla Oei-Wusu Nimako, ISD
