The Communications Manager of Parliamentary Network Africa (PN Africa), Clement Akoloh, has called on the youth to avoid excessive partisanship and instead focus on pressing issues that directly impact their lives as the 2024 General Election gets closer.
Speaking at a town hall meeting in Koforidua, organised by PN Africa in collaboration with the French Embassy, he emphasised that involvement of the youth in decision-making could enhance national unity and accelerate development.
“There is a need for the youth to set aside extreme partisanship and prioritise the issues that directly affect them,” Mr Akoloh advised.
He encouraged young people to engage their Members of Parliament (MPs) to bring their concerns to the national stage.
By doing so, Mr Akoloh believed that such issues would be discussed on the floor of parliament, and potentially lead to meaningful youth development.
He highlighted that many young people were not familiar with parliament functions and how to engage MPs over important issues.
Mr Akoloh stressed it was necessary to educate the youth on parliamentary processes to influence decisions that impact their lives.
He also advocated Private Member’s Bill, which according to him has been used more than seven times in the current parliament to propose laws on critical issues, especially those concerning young people.
“The youth must seize this opportunity to engage their MPs. This is a crucial time to ensure that laws passed benefit them,”
Mr Akoloh said.
He said Ghana’s hung parliament has fostered more productive discussions and consensus-building among lawmakers.
Mr Akoloh urged the youth to take advantage of this moment and influence legislative decisions, by actively engaging MPs, which could lead to the passage of laws that would positively affect their lives.
Mr Gilbert Borketey Boyefio, Programmes Manager of PN Africa, said that the town hall meeting was part of efforts to make parliament more accessible, open and transparent to the youth.
He expressed concern that during elections, the youth were often manipulated by political parties for violent purposes.
Ms Alberta Amenziah, Project Manager for the Corporation Department at the French Embassy, reaffirmed the embassy’s commitment to supporting inclusive governance in Ghana.
She emphasised the importance of youth and women in the country’s democratic process.
Democracy, Ms Amenziah, noted, “goes beyond voting, it involves engaging in dialogue, holding leaders accountable, and ensuring that marginalised groups have a voice in governance.”
The town hall meeting was part of the broader “Enhancing civic participation of the youth and women in Ghana” project.
This initiative aimed to provide a platform for youth, women, and civil society organisations to deliberate on national development issues, promoting youth participation in decision-making processes that will affect their future.
Participants were also educated on parliamentary proceedings, particularly regarding the 8th Parliament, to help them understand the issues being discussed and encourage them to contribute meaningfully to the upcoming parliamentary session in October.
FROM AMA TEKYIWAA AMPADU AGYEMAN, KOFORIDUA