A Palette of Possibilities: Exploring the Potential of Youth Culture and Creative Arts for National Development
Reuben Agbelengor Glover 
, Michael Ato Essuman , Duke Peprah Mensah & Selasi Awusi Sosu
Issue: Vol.6 No. 11 2025 Article 6 pp. 1124 – 1140
DOI : https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.20256116 | Published online 25th November, 2025.
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
This paper explored the intricate nexus between youth culture, creative arts, and national development, emphasising the role of young populations as pivotal agents of socio-economic transformation. Drawing on interdisciplinary frameworks, through discursive evaluation of rhetorical strategies and societal resonance, the study discussed how youth-driven cultural expressions and creative practices foster innovation, social cohesion, and cultural identity within Ghana’s development milieu. It further explored the potential of the creative sector as a strategic lever for sustainable development, advocating for policy interventions that nurture youth participation in cultural industries. The discussion suggests that empowering youth engagement in the arts can serve as a catalytic mechanism for enhancing national development trajectories through fostering creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and social inclusion. Such an environment facilitates opportunities for youth to cultivate character, acquire knowledge, skills and develop innate talents and abilities. Based on these analyses, a key recommendation is that government policies should prioritise and vigorously promote investment in young people by harnessing their creative potential and culture for youth-centred sustainable development. Such an emphasis is essential for fostering sustainable socio-economic growth and ensuring political stability within society.
Keywords: Youth Culture, Youth Subcultures, Development, Creative Arts, Policy
Abukari, Ziblim. “‘Not Giving Up’: Ghanaian Students’ Perspectives on Resilience, Risk, and Academic Achievement.” Sage Open 8, no. 4 (October 21, 2018). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018820378.
Acosta, Joie D, Lia Pak, Devin McCarthy, Rhianna C Rogers, William Marcellino, Maya Rabinowitz, Isabelle González, Theo Jacobs, and Leah Dion. Annexe of Literature on Youth Arts Engagement and Well-Being. RAND, 2025.
———. “Stitching the Threads Together: A Cross-Disciplinary Literature Review on Youth Arts Engagement and Well-Being.” Rand Health Quarterly 12, no. 3 (2025): 5.
Africannews. “Ghana Police Worried over Death Prophesies, Creating Fear, Panic,” 2024. https://www.africanews.com/2019/01/05/ghana-police-worried-over-death-prophesies-creating-fear-panic//.
Anderson, Monica, Emily A Vogels, Andrew Perrin, and Lee Rainie. “Connection, Creativity and Drama: Teen Life on Social Media in 2022.” Pew Research Center, 2022.
Animashaun, Damilola. “New Era’s Latest Documentary Explores Accra’s Underground Youth Culture.” Dazed Digital, 2023.
Barker, Chris. The SAGE Dictionary of Cultural Studies. 1 Oliver’s Yard, 55 City Road, London EC1Y 1SP United Kingdom: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2004. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446221280.
Beemt, Antoine Van den, Sanne Akkerman, and Robert-Jan Simons. “Considering Young People’s Motives for Interactive Media Use.” Educational Research Review 6, no. 1 (2011): 55–66.
Bennett, Andy. “‘Speaking of Youth Culture’: A Critical Analysis of Contemporary Youth Cultural Practice.” In Youth Cultures, Transitions, and Generations, 42–55. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137377234_4.
Bucholtz, Mary, and Kira Hall. “Identity and Interaction: A Sociocultural Linguistic Approach.” Discourse Studies 7, no. 4–5 (October 1, 2005): 585–614. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461445605054407.
Buditjahjanto, I Gusti Putu Asto, and Juki Irfansyah. “Augmented Reality on Students’ Academic Achievement Viewed from the Creative Thinking Level.” Journal of Technology and Science Education 13, no. 3 (June 12, 2023): 597–612. https://doi.org/10.3926/jotse.1813.
Centre for Mental Health in Schools at UCLA. “School Mental Health Project.” University of California, n.d.
Chipeta, Eleanor Meda, Philipp Kruse, and Jhalukpreya Surujlal. “Effects of Gender on Antecedents to Social Entrepreneurship among University Students in South Africa.” International Journal of Business and Management Studies 12, no. 1 (2020): 18–33.
“Concepts of Sustainable Development: A Literature Review and a Systematic Framework for Connecting the Role of Education with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” International Journal of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education 8, no. 8 (2021). https://doi.org/10.20431/2349-0381.0808009.
Crawhall, N. “Auditing and Managing Cultural Resources with Displaced Indigenous Peoples: A South African Case Study.” Paris: UNESCO, 2001.
Cross, Frank Moore. Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic: Essays in the History of the Religion of Israel. Harvard University Press, 1997.
Dawkins, Richard. The Extended Selfish Gene. Oxford University Press, 2016.
Department for Culture, Media & Sport. Creative Industries Sector Vision: A Joint Plan to Drive Growth, Build Talent and Develop Skills, 2023.
Division for Social Policy and Development, United Nations. “The Definition of Youth.” www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/g-and-a/define.html, 1999.
Easy Sociology. “Understanding Youth Culture Sociologically.”. Easy Sociology, 2025.
Gidley, Jennifer. “Global Youth Culture: A Transdisciplinary Perspective.” Youth Futures: Comparative Research and Transformative Visions, 2002, 3–18.
Government of Ghana. “National Youth Policy (2022-2032): Benefit for Youth, Involve Youth: Together for a Prosperous Future. Accra, Ghana.” Ministry of Youth and Sports, National Youth Authority. , 2022.
Habitat, U N. “UN-Habitat Annual Report.” UN. Retrieved from https://unhabitat. org/un-habitat-annual-report-2012, 2012.
Hesmondhalgh, David. The Cultural Industries. 3rd Ed. London: Sage, 2013.
Huang, Xiaowei. “Understanding Bourdieu – Cultural Capital and Habitus.” Review of European Studies 11, no. 3 (August 7, 2019): 45. https://doi.org/10.5539/res.v11n3p45.
Knobel, Michele, and Colin Lankshear. “New Literacies: Everyday Practices and Social Activism.” New York: Peter Lang, 201AD.
Lin-Siegler, Xiaodong, Carol S Dweck, and Geoffrey L Cohen. “Instructional Interventions That Motivate Classroom Learning.” Journal of Educational Psychology 108, no. 3 (2016): 295.
Marten, James. “Introduction.” In The Oxford Handbook of the History of Youth Culture, 1–18. Oxford University Press, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190920753.013.1.
Martínez-Hita, María, Cosme Jesús Gómez-Carrasco, and Pedro Miralles-Martínez. “The Effects of a Gamified Project Based on Historical Thinking on the Academic Performance of Primary School Children.” Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 8, no. 1 (May 17, 2021): 122. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-00796-9.
Matope, Jasmine. “Making Wine Without Grapes: The Case for Quality Teaching With Limited Resources.” Educational Research for Social Change 10, no. 2 (September 1, 2021): 33–46. https://doi.org/10.17159/2221-4070/2021/v10i2a3.
Mseleku, Zethembe. “Post-University Training for Jobless Market: The Experiences of Graduates in a Work Experience Programme.” Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies 11, no. 5 (September 2, 2022): 86. https://doi.org/10.36941/ajis-2022-0127.
Musteen, Martina, Ross Curran, Nuno Arroteia, Maria Ripollés, and Andreu Blesa. “A Community of Practice Approach to Teaching International Entrepreneurship.” Administrative Sciences 8, no. 4 (September 23, 2018): 56. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci8040056.
National Democratic Congress (NDC). “2024 Youth Manifesto.” Accra, Ghana: NDC, 2024.
Naylor, Ted D., and Richard Florida. “The Rise of the Creative Class: And How It’s Transforming Work, Leisure, Community and Everyday Life.” Canadian Public Policy / Analyse de Politiques 29, no. 3 (September 2003): 378. https://doi.org/10.2307/3552294.
Nkansah, Joan Nkansaa. “The Future of Education in Ghana: Critical Education for Socio-Economic Development.” Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education 10, no. SI (2021): 57–78.
Okonkwo, George. “Youth Culture: The Revolution in Real Time.” Voice Magazine, 2025.
Pickard, Sarah. “The Trouble with Young People These Days:‘Deviant’Youth, the Popular Press and Politics in Contemporary Britain.” Revue Française de Civilisation Britannique 19, no. 1 (2014): 91–122.
Pijnaker, Tessa. “Downward Social Mobility among Young Ghanaian Digital Entrepreneurs: Navigating Family Expectations and Digital Start-up Dreams.” Africa 95, no. 1 (February 26, 2025): 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0001972025000129.
Policy, Cultural. “The Cultural Policy of Ghana.” Accra, Ghana: Anttis, 2004.
Questa, K., M. Das, R. King, M. Everitt, C. Rassi, C. Cartwright, T. Ferdous, et al. “Community Engagement Interventions for Communicable Disease Control in Low- and Lower- Middle-Income Countries: Evidence from a Review of Systematic Reviews.” International Journal for Equity in Health 19, no. 1 (December 6, 2020): 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-020-01169-5.
Republic of Ghana. National Youth Policy (2022–2032): Benefit for Youth, Involve Youth—Together for a Prosperous Future. Accra: Ministry of Youth and Sports, National Youth Authority, 2022.
Roberts, Ken. “Bleak Prospects: Youth Transitions in Twenty-First Century Britain.” Journal of Youth Studies, April 7, 2025, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2025.2488785.
Robeyns, Ingrid, and Morten Fibieger Byskov. “‘The Capability Approach’, The Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy (Summer 2025 Edition), Edward N. .” Zalta & Uri Nodelman (eds.): forthcoming URL, n.d.
Salm, Steven J. “22 “Rain or Shine We Gonna’ Rock’ Dance Subcultures and Identity Construction in Accra, Ghana.” In Sources and Methods in African History, 361–75. Boydell and Brewer, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781580466172-024.
Salm, Steven James. “‘Africanizing the West: Changing Expressions of Popular Culture among Urban Youth.’” In Globalisation and the African Experience. , edited by Emmanuel M., and Salm, Steven James. (eds.). Mbah. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, 2012.
Sen, Amartya. Development as Freedom. New York: Anchor Books, 1999.
Suntoo, Rajen, and Hemant Chittoo. “Youth Culture and Development in Mauritius.” Global Journal of Management and Business Research 11, no. 10 (2011): 1–5.
Tell, Carol. “Generation What? Connecting with Today’s Youth.” Educational Leadership 57, no. 4 (2000): 8–13.
“UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development MONDIACULT 2022, Mexico City 28-30 September 2022: Proceedings,” February 28, 2024. https://doi.org/10.58337/AIVC1941.
UNICEF. “UNICEF Annual Report 2017.” New York: United Nations, 2018.
Union, African. “African Youth Charter,” 2006.
United Nations. Remarks by the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, at the Joint Briefing of the Presidents of the General Assembly and Economic and Social Council. , 2025.
United Nations Educational. Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). UNESCO 2010. Paris: Sector for External Relations and Public Information, 2011.
Valenzuela, Sebastián. “Unpacking the Use of Social Media for Protest Behavior.” American Behavioral Scientist 57, no. 7 (July 6, 2013): 920–42. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764213479375.
Williams, Raymond. “Keywords: A Vocabulary of Culture and Society.” Oxford University Press, 2014.
World Bank. The World Bank Annual Report. Washington, DC: World Bank, 2016.
Youngblood, R. F. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nelson Publishers United Nations Development Program, 2011.
Reuben Agbelengor Glover is a senior lecturer in the Department of Publishing Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. He holds an LLB (Substantive Law), BL (Professional Law), an MFA and a BA Art from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana and Ghana School of Law, Accra. He is also a certified teacher with Teachers Certificate ‘A’ (Post-Secondary) S.D.A. College of Education, Asokore-Koforidua, Ghana. His research interests include Intellectual property law, visual culture, cultural policy studies, design and illustration. Email: reubenglover.cass@knust.edu.gh, reubenglover.rg@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3119-1659
Michael Ato Essuman is a lecturer in the Department of Publishing Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. He holds a PhD in Art Education and a BA (Publishing Studies) from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. He is also a certified teacher with Teachers Certificate ‘A’ (Post-Secondary). His research interests include Literary arts, Textbook Publishing, Textbooks Assessment, Evaluation and Selection, Art Education, General Publishing, Information Design and Digital Publishing, Book Design and illustration, Designing Learning Resources, Editing, Computer-Aided Design and Illustration, Educational Innovation and Leadership Science, Higher Education use of Educational Media and Textbooks. Email: maessuman@knust.edu.gh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3309-9161
Duke Peprah Mensah is a lecturer at the Department of Publishing Studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. He has over six years of industry experience, having worked as Editorial Manager and Content Editor at a reputable book publishing firm in Accra, Ghana’s capital. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Publishing Studies as well as an MPhil in Business Administration both from the KNUST. He is currently pursuing his PhD. His research interests include content creation, editing, publishing, marketing, education, and digital business. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6311-7885
Selasi Awusi Sosu is an international artist and art educator. She teaches courses in art at the Department of Art Education, University of Education Winneba (UEW). She has been exploring the medium of glass and its aesthetics through photography/videography, sound and installation as part of her PhD research, work which has been exhibited in Ghana and abroad. Her interest in imaging, exploring visual culture, collaboration and education led her to pioneer the on-going collaboration Exploring Visual Cultures between three departments in UEW, the Academy of Fine Art, the Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich and other international partners. https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6238-713X
Glover, Reuben Agbelengor, Michael Ato Essuman, Duke Peprah Mensah, and Selasi Awusi Sosu. “A Palette of Possibilities: Exploring the Potential of Youth Culture and Creative Arts for National Development.” Journal of Education and Learning Technology 6, no. 11 (2025): 1124 – 1140. https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.20256116.
© 2025 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/).
Featured