Towards evaluating the contributions of Youth Mentoring in enhancing National Development

Richard Thomas Sarpong ORCID iD, Francis Appiah-Kubi ORCID iD, Peter Addai-Mensah ORCID iD, Emmanuel Kojo Ennin Antwi ORCID iD & Jonathan Edward Tetteh Kuwornu-Adjaottor ORCID iD 

Issue: Vol. 12 No.3 2026 Issue Article 1 pp.77 – 94
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20261231 Published online 29th April 2026.
© 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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This study assesses the contributions of youth mentoring to improving national development. Using a phenomenological research design, pragmatist philosophy, and purposive sampling technique, fourteen participants from four Classical Pentecostal Churches, including The Apostolic Church – Ghana, Christ Apostolic Church International, Assemblies of God, Ghana, and The Church of Pentecost, were available for interview. In responding to the question, “What are the contributions of youth mentoring in enhancing national development?” participants reveal that, by stimulating and developing the creativity, innovation, and competence of young people, youth mentoring contributes to the development of a nation’s economy, society, and religion. For the economy, it promotes the following: the production of goods, services, or products to reduce pressure on the local currency; the creation of jobs to reduce the unemployment rate; and investments to boost the economy, among others. For society, youth mentoring promotes prosperity, inclusion, and peace, enabling others to thrive and resulting in more resilient, interconnected communities. It also encourages coexistence, helping reduce conflict and violence, among other benefits. In religion, it promotes religious culture and beliefs, and the transmission of faith to younger generations, including producing capable leaders able to promote inter- and intra-religious dialogue and/or tolerance, among others.

Keywords: Mentoring, Youth, Youth mentoring, Development, Nation, National Development, Economy, Society, and Religion.

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Richard Thomas Sarpong is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Religious Studies at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST). He holds an M.Phil. degree in Religious Studies from the same institution and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Education, Winneba. His research focuses on Contemporary Christian Leadership/Education and Classical Pentecostalism. He is a Reverend Minister and currently the Minister-in-Charge of Citadel Chapel Assemblies of God Church – Bosore, Kumasi.

Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Francis Appiah-Kubi is an Associate Professor at the Department of Religious Studies in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST). He holds a Ph.D. degree from both the Institut Catholique de Paris and Catholic University, Leuven, and a Master’s degree in Theology from Facultés Catholiques de Congo. His areas of specialization are Ecclesiology and Studies in African Traditional Religion. He is currently a Parish Priest of St. Anthony Catholic Church – Kwamo, Kumasi.

Rev. Fr. Dr. Peter Addai-Mensah is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Religious Studies – Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST). He has a doctorate in Sacred Theology from Weston Jesuit School of Theology, a Master’s in Education from Boston College, and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology also from Weston Jesuit School of Theology, all in Boston. His specialized areas are Religion, Theology, and Spirituality. He is currently a Parish Priest of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church – Anwomaso, Kumasi.

Rev. Fr. Prof. Emmanuel Kojo Ennin Antwi is a Professor (Associate) in Biblical Studies in the Department of Religious Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi. He holds a doctorate in Sacred Theology (Old Testament Literature and Exegesis) from Albert-Ludwig University, Freiburg, Germany, a Certificate in Theology and Religious Studies from the International Graduate Academy, University of Freiburg, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Cape Coast. His area of specialization is Biblical Studies. He is currently a Parish Priest of St. Martha Catholic Church – Antoa, Kumasi.

Rev. Prof. Jonathan Edward Tetteh Kuwornu-Adjaottor is an Associate Professor of New Testament and Mother Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics in the Department of Religious Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST). He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies (New Testament Interpretation) from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, and a Master of Theology (New Testament Studies) from Trinity Theological Seminary – Legon, Ghana. His areas of specialization are New Testament and Mother-tongue Biblical Hermeneutics. He is an Ordained Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) and currently serves as an Associate Minister of the Christ Congregation of the PCG, KNUST-Kumasi, Ghana.

Sarpong, Richard Thomas, Francis Appiah-Kubi, Peter Addai-Mensah,  Emmanuel Kojo Ennin Antwi, and Jonathan Edward Tetteh Kuwornu-Adjaottor. “Towards Evaluating the Contributions of Youth Mentoring in Enhancing National Development.” E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies 12, no.3 (2026):77- 94. https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20261231

© 2026 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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