MPs: Youth must have exposure for higher political positions
The First
Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu, has admonished the youth to
have some political exposure and recognition, including offering themselves as
party volunteers, before being allowed for higher political positions.
He explained that despite the legal voting age
being constitutionally pegged at 18, about 12 years were spent in basic and
secondary education, and still needed to be mentored and trained before assigned
to serve in higher political positions.
Parliament, on
Tuesday, began discussions for reduction of ages allowed by the 1992 Constitution,
to qualify for election as president and Member of Parliament (MP), to enable
more young men to serve the country at the highest political offices.
The country has a youthful population. Majority
of the citizenry are below the age of 35 and according to the 2010 population
census, 46.5 per cent of the population are below the age of 24.
Ernest Norgbey, MP for Ashaiman Constituency,
noted that “if an individual is old enough to vote and decide on what political
culture he prefers, then that person is old enough to hold a portfolio. If an
individual of 21 is old enough to make laws, he should be able enough to
implement the laws,” he said and quizzed why an immature person should
make laws for the mature to obey and implement.
According to him, “Individuals, especially the
youth, are motivated by considerations of self-interest when they get involved
in politics. If a rational human being attained voting age to know who is fit
to be in power as stipulated in the constitution, the youth must as well be
rational enough to contest position or be involved in high-level politics.”
Mr Norgbey identified the reservation of leadership
roles to the elderly as challenging and made a strong case for the youth to be
given space in political leadership as he cited examples of former President
Jerry Rawlings leading the nation in his 30’s.
Ursula
Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communications and MP for Ablekuma West Constituency,
called for demonetisation of politics, giving a certain percentage or quota of
allocated funds to aspiring MPs who are 35 and below saying “it is not
enough for the country to pride itself with the youngest MPs in Africa, but
let’s go beyond to have more of the youth in parliament and other higher levels
of the political office.”
Dr Bernice Heloo, MP for Hohoe Constituency, suggested adoption of young females and mentoring them to take up political leadership roles and later fill in gaps when the present female adults exit their political positions. –gna.org
