It is obvious that issues regarding youth participation in politics and governance in Ghana is extremely poor, the reason why some organizations in their own accord have taken it upon themselves to correct the canker through campaigns.
Organizations such as Center for Democratic Development (CDD- Ghana) and Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF) have been advocating for the youth to be given the opportunity in politics and governance .
The reason why an initiative known as ‘Youth Speak Forum’ was introduced by CDD- Ghana and it’s partners to engage various political parties and Youth groups across the country in a dialogue as a ways of enhancing youth participation in the political process, providing critical youth feedback on political parties policies, programs and manifesto’s towards youth developments.
The Youth Bridge Foundation Assistant Programmes Coordinator, Ibrahim Hussein Bancie, during an engagement with the media at ‘Youth Speak Forum’ in Bolgatanga, expressed dissatisfaction with the poor participation of the Youth in Parliament.
“It is really bad that out of 275 Members of Parliament, only 13 Members of Parliament represents the youth. So if we are talking about youth engagement at a global stage, what are we doing as a country in Ghana, to be sure that beyond just participation, there is a meaningful representation. That is why we have been championing our campaign to ensure that there is more Youth in Parliament. But not just going to parliament because am going to parliament, but meaningfully contributing to the discourse in the parliament house.
We are looking at it from the area of capacity, capacity in the area of youth advocacy. So, the person maybe a youth, but not just going to parliament. So beyond that, when they partake in parliamentary proceedings and when a document is presented to them, they don’t really analyze it to know the youth component in the agenda”.
Mr. Bancie, added that, it is important to have the Youth in parliament to actively push forward the youth agenda and development .
“So if you are talking about nation building, what is the component of nation building meant for the Youth?”.
All the political parties representatives were given the opportunity to share some of their agenda and manifesto’s in the area of Youth development during the ‘Youth Speak Forum’ program and feedback was taken.
They also use the medium to admonished their party members not to allow themselves used by politicians to cause mayhem.
The Director for RISE-Ghana Ahmed Kariama Awal who moderated the 15th Edition Upper East section of the ‘Youth Speak Forum’, admonished participants and political parties present to take issues of youth inclusive and advocacy as a priority.
However, Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) in collaboration with the Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF) and USAID (United States Agency for International Development) funding, launched ‘Youth Speak Forums’ the initiative together to improve the interest of Ghanaian youth in national politics and governance processes.
Source:|A1radioonline.com|101.1MHZ|Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen|Ghana
