First-ever West African Youth Day Ends With Call on Young People to Be “actors of hope and agents of peace”

The first West African Youth Day concluded in Accra, Ghana, on September 11, 2026, with Archbishop Julien Kaboré calling on Catholic young people to act as agents of peace and hope. During the closing Mass at the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Accra, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana urged participants to reject violence, hatred, and manipulation stemming from political, ethnic, or religious divisions.

Archbishop Kaboré addressed the theme of the gathering, which encouraged youth to take courage despite the fears and uncertainties facing their generation. He told the young people that the future of the 16 countries in West Africa depends on their ability to use their energy and talents for the common good. The Archbishop noted that while the participants represented various languages, cultures, and dioceses, they share a common identity as the sons and daughters of the region.