Ghanaian faith leader Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams and youth convenor Eric Kwapong Jr. led an influential civic dialogue at Ashesi University as part of J-FORCE Ghana’s “Influence Town Hall” series, aimed at reshaping how young citizens engage with power and policy.
Held in May 2019, the forum brought together high-profile national figures including Bishop Eric O. Kwapong Sr., Hon. Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, and Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for a moderated conversation with students. The event sought to bridge generational divides and promote practical civic leadership among Ghana’s youth.
“A dream that benefits only you is not from God”
Archbishop Duncan-Williams opened the dialogue with a moral challenge to young people to pursue dreams that serve the wider community. Bishop Eric O. Kwapong Sr. reinforced this call, stressing that “top companies now look beyond academic credentials; they are searching for strength of character and moral dignity.”
Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings urged participants to accept shared responsibility for governance, noting, “We cannot keep blaming the people who tell the lies if we choose them to be there.” From Parliament, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa encouraged the youth to be “disruptors” of the status quo and to demand higher standards of leadership.
Bridging Questions and Power
The Influence Town Hall stood out for its disciplined, results-oriented approach. Students moved beyond rhetoric to explore concrete civic mechanisms—how to file petitions, follow up with ministries, and sustain advocacy. Discussions focused on accountability tools such as budgets, procurement, and policy timelines.
The venue, Ashesi University, was symbolic. Known for its strong ethics curriculum, the institution provided a fitting backdrop for a conversation centred on integrity and national service. Moderator Eric Kwapong Jr. maintained a steady pace, ensuring contributions were short, practical, and actionable.
“As J-FORCE Ghana frames it, by 2050 Africa will have the largest share of the world’s young people,” Kwapong said. “The question is: what will we do with all this potential?”
From Service to Sustainable Impact
The Town Hall forms part of J-FORCE Ghana’s six-phase leadership journey:
- Project Feed Agbogbloshie (2018) – promoting community service as leadership.
- School Tours (2019) – fostering youth activism in schools and universities.
- Inspire Conference (2019) – themed “The Coming African Renaissance.”
- Influence Town Hall (2019) – encouraging civic dialogue with national leaders.
- J-FORCE Garden Party (2019) – nurturing networks among young entrepreneurs.
- We Are The Change Series (2020–2021) – connecting diaspora leaders and Ghanaian innovators.
Lasting Lessons
For Eric Kwapong Jr., progress is measured not by slogans but by tangible outcomes — minutes, memos, and measurable actions. The Influence Town Hall demonstrated that when youth, faith, and public leadership meet in one room, the result is not noise but a blueprint for civic responsibility.
