John Adoku Abaah has filed his nomination to contest the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Youth Organiser position in the Nabdam Constituency, promising to focus on creating opportunities for young people rather than providing short-term handouts.
Speaking after filing his nomination, Mr Abaah said youth organisation within the constituency should extend beyond election periods and focus on skills development, mentorship, business connections and access to opportunities.
“A handout may solve a problem for a day. An opportunity, a skill, a business connection or meaningful mentorship can change a person’s life,” he said.
Mr Abaah, who described himself as a young business person, said his experience had exposed him to some of the difficulties young people face in finding opportunities and starting businesses with limited resources.
He said the constituency’s youth structure should therefore identify and connect young entrepreneurs, farmers, artisans, students and professionals to opportunities.
“We must move from a culture where young people are remembered only when elections are approaching to a culture where young people are continuously organised, supported, mentored and empowered,” he said.
Mr Abaah said his plan would involve working with youth organisers across Nabdam’s 55 polling stations to make them active centres for mobilisation, information sharing and youth development.
“The question before us is, How do we organise these young people? How do we connect their talents to opportunities? How do we make the constituency’s youth structure vibrant throughout the political calendar, rather than only during elections?” he said.
He argued that concerns raised by young people at polling station level should be able to reach the constituency leadership and receive attention.
“My experience in business has taught me one important lesson: you cannot build anything sustainable without organisation. The same principle applies to politics,” he said.
Mr Abaah said his approach would prioritise communication, mobilisation and mentorship while creating avenues for young people to develop their skills and take on greater responsibilities within the party.
“Let us make youth leadership about what we can build, not merely what we can distribute. Let us make it about empowerment, not dependency; organisation, not confusion; opportunity, not empty promises; and service, not personal ambition,” he said.
He appealed to delegates and youth organisers across the constituency to support his candidature.
“I am offering myself not as a person who has all the answers, but as a young person prepared to listen, learn and work with you,” Mr Abaah said.
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