GUNYO GUNYO

About

The youth seat on Ghana’s delegation.

Ghana United Nations Youth Observer selects the young person who represents Ghanaian youth at the annual UN General Assembly in New York.

The Observer joins the presidential delegation and works with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the National Youth Authority, the UN Information Centre in Accra, and LifeLink Friendship Schools.

01 History

Born in Ghana’s oldest Model UN.

  1. 2000

    Ernest Gyimah-Danquah, a mathematics graduate of KNUST, starts LifeLink Friendship Schools Ghana with a junior high Model UN in Tema. It grows into conferences for junior high, senior high, and university students.

  2. 2015

    Joyce Okyerewaa Danso serves as Youth Observer for the 70th Assembly. At LifeLink’s UN Day conference that October, Ernest Gyimah-Danquah sets out the UN youth delegate programme: young Ghanaians developed for diplomacy and placed on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

  3. 2016

    The call draws 226 applicants. Thirty-six finalists interview at the Accra International Conference Centre before Pearl Afua Acheampong is appointed for the 71st Assembly.

  4. 2026

    GUNYO representatives are with Ghana’s delegation at the 81st General Assembly in New York.

02 What the Observer does

An envoy for young people, before, during, and after New York.

Before New York

Briefings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and time with past Observers, preparing the youth priorities Ghana will carry into the Assembly.

At the Assembly

A seat with the presidential delegation, committee rooms and side events, and a network of youth observers from other countries who draft an action plan together.

Back home

SDG campaigns across the regions, a youth view on national issues, and progress checks with the observers met in New York.

Who can apply, how the interviews work, and how Model UN leads to the seat.

Become an Observer

03 Beyond the Assembly

The work at home.

Letters to the World

Young writers send essays on the SDGs, work, climate, education, and governance to letterstotheworld@gunyo.org. The best are published in Stories.

GUNYO Awards

A recognition of young Ghanaians nominated by their peers for community work, innovation, and education.

G200 Youth Forum

The programme has connected observers to the Swiss-based forum of young leaders, parliamentarians, and diplomats.

04 Partners

Government partner

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration

Accredits the Observer and places them inside Ghana’s delegation to the General Assembly in New York.

Youth policy

National Youth Authority

The statutory body for youth development and advocacy across Ghana.

UN partner

United Nations Information Centre, Accra

Works with the programme on UN observances, SDG campaigns, and public education.

Founding partner

LifeLink Friendship Schools

Runs Ghana’s Model UN conferences and has facilitated GUNYO selection for years.

International forum

G200 Association

The Swiss-based association behind the G200 Youth Forum, which brings together young leaders, parliamentarians, and diplomats.