The Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) has entreated the Ghanaian youth on the need to safeguard Ghana’s democracy.
Speaking to Starrfm.com.gh, on the sideline of a forum held at Institute of Local Government studies (ILGS) for some selected Universities and youth groups, the Acting Executive Director for FOSDA, Theodora Williams Anti urged the youth to hold leadership accountable in order to enjoy the benefits of democracy.
In narrating the rationale behind the forum, the Acting Executive Director pointed out that as CSOs, they believe that democracy is the best for Ghana adding that “It is very important to get young people to begin to understand and appreciate democracy and also chart out opportunities on how they can also impact and improve Ghana’s democracy.”
He continued “We realize that in recent times people are losing faith in democracy, people are asking if democracy will work or whether shouldn’t we go the Chinese way, or authoritarian? I also hear people say we have our own system of governance, the traditional system where we have the royals. So with the kind of dissatisfaction in people, there are questions about our democracy.”
The forum held on Friday 10th December 2021 had some selected public Universities participating that include the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Professional Studies, and the University of Development Studies.
Other participants were from the Regional Youth Networks as well as the National Youth Networks across the country.
Madam Theodora Anti stated that “because of the disappointment and dissatisfaction in the system a lot of people have given up, and have become spectators. Because after all they are looking for jobs and they are not getting it. But giving up will also not give you the job so it is rather better that even in this state of disappointment, this is the time rather for us to work harder and do all we can to safeguard Ghana’s democracy.”
In advising the youth she said “Young people must be interested in Ghana’s democracy and development, if we want to see the much touted Ghana we want, as young people we must not sit aloof and must not be disinterested. Young people must not sit and wait for the elderly or our parents to work it out for us.
“We must work towards the Ghana we want to see in ten-years when we are no longer young, when we are now beginning to benefit from the system. We want to see young people contributing towards it. Talking to our peers and people about Ghana and its democracy and the fact that we don’t have to sell our votes. We must be politically active and seek accountability from the local to the national level.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Isaac Dzidzoamenu
