The nation’s youth must continuously explore creative means of expressing themselves in their quest to contribute meaningfully to development of the country and continent, Okyeame Kwame, a musician, has said.

To the multiple awards winner, Africa’s culture and its creative arts are “appropriate mechanisms to integrate the youth” for development, and as such an attempt should be made to harness them.

The musician, real name Kwame Nsiah-Apau, said this in statement to commemorate the celebration of African Union (AU) Day.

Okyeame, who currently serves on the planning committee of the AU Arts Festival, reminded the youth to “remember the sacrifices of our forebears and work together to find solutions for the myriad of problems confronting our continent”.

Citing corruption and bad governance as the bane of Africa’s development, the musician entreated the African youth to support national and continental efforts geared toward eliminating corruption and improving on governance systems.

To this end, he called on all and sundry to throw their weight behind the maidenAU Arts Festival slated for the Golden Tulip Hotel, Accra from June 1 (Friday) to June 3 (Sunday), 2018.

To be organised by Malaika Media Network, OK Communications and the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation, the AU Arts Festivalwill raise funds to support projects started by the JA Kufuor Foundation established by the former president of Ghana, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor.

The projects include the construction of a Governance and Leadership at the University of Ghana (UG) Legon campus, a scholarship scheme for brilliant but needy students and other social amenities projects.

The three-day festival, to be addressed by the Speaker of Parliament, the Right Honourable Prof. Michael Ocquaye, would engage the creativity of 40 artists to paint amazing portraits and designs that would be auctioned.

Former President Kufuor will grace the festival on its first day from morning till midday and will autograph every artwork that has been sold.

“Beginning from this year, the AU Arts Foundation will use creative arts to empower our youth for accelerated development,” Okyeame Kwame added as he called for a massive turnout at the forthcoming festival.