Youth parliamentarians urged to deliberate on social concerns

Youth parliamentarians have been urged to deliberate on vital social concerns confronting their communities to help appreciate and participate in the decision-making process while instilling in them the communal spirit.

Social concerns such as education, drug abuse, sanitation, child abuse and teenage pregnancy should be addressed through meaningful debates at their meetings so as to empower them and help in consolidation of democracy.

Samuel Agyekum, the Asuogyaman District Chief Executive (DCE), urged members of the newly inaugurated Asuogyaman Youth Parliament when he addressed them at Atimpoku in the Eastern Region.

It has membership of 81 people made up of students, leaders of youth groups, individuals and elected assembly members below 35 years, made up of 55 per cent of Majority and 45 per cent of on the Minority.

The Youth Parliament concept which was introduced by National Youth Authority (NYA) in the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies is expected to inculcate in the youth values of democratic system of governance through appreciation of relevance of legislative systems in promotion of democratic governance.

Mr Agyekum observed that it is also intended to partner youth development workers to ensure realisation of goals of national youth policy to deliberate on vital social concerns confronting the district.

 He advised members to study standing orders that guided their debates in order to make informed contributions saying “your involvement in governance process will offer you platform to harness qualitative strength for accelerated national growth and development.”

Pascal Edwards, the Director in charge of Youth Resource Centers at NYA, said the Authority was using youth to advance growth and development, there is the need for youth parliaments in every district, an opportunity for them to have a say in governance process and platform to share opinions on issues regarding development in localities.

 Marian Minnah, the Acting Eastern Regional Director of NYA, said most certain approach to imbibing values, principles and culture of democracy in society  was to inculcate into youth as future leaders, spirit of co-operation and non-aggression in pursuing perceived injustices. -gna.org