On the occasion of International Youth Day, 12 August 2024, the Voices of Youth Coalition calls on all political parties and candidates to focus their campaign strategies on outlining measurable policies and programmes for helping young people to succeed in becoming productive members of society, active citizens, and drivers of socio-economic development. This is necessary for many reasons.
Firstly, the demographics of youth make a compelling case for national attention to young people’s economic and social wellbeing. Youth between the ages 15 and 35 account for more than a third of Ghana’s population and failure to respond to their education, health, employment and other needs would continue to entrench poverty for current and future generations.
Secondly, young people are central to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Progress towards achieving the SDGs in Ghana by 20230 will be determined, in part, by bridging the gap between young people’s present realities and the SDGs targets.
Thirdly, focusing on youth will be in fulfilment of the Constitution of Ghana, the African Youth Charter, the United Nations World Programme of Action for Youth, and several other national, regional and international commitments. And there are many more reasons – including the human rights of young people to participate in policy formulation, decision-making, and leadership.
We call on all those contesting for political power to partner with youth at all levels towards a more inclusive and sustainable development. As we draw close to the December 7 elections, youth voters will be watching out for candidates whose proposed policies focus on young people’s hopes and aspirations as reflected in the Ghana Youth Manifesto, the People’s National Youth Policy, and the Ghana Youth Barometer[1], all compiled by the Voices of Youth Coalition in 2012, 2016, and 2024 respectively.
As the Convenor of the Voices of Youth Coalition, YOTA maintains the position that the Ghanaian youth remain largely at the periphery of socio-economic processes and development structures, with little recognition as social stakeholders. In this regard, YOTA’s Executive Director, Emmanuel Edudzie, observes:
“Any effort to build a youth-inclusive Ghanaian society must first focus on the architecture for youth development in the country. This should be done with the view of repositioning youth at the centre of the broader governance and development agenda”.
To succeed, the following actions are imperative:
- Ghana needs a youth law that encompasses the National Youth Authority and sets the legislative framework for youth development in the country, including the institutional and technical frameworks for the promotion of youth rights, responsibilities, and structures.
- It is time for Ghana to consider creating a dedicated Ministry of Youth Affairs and sufficiently resource it to oversee the many components of the national youth development agenda, including arrangements for effective participation of young people.
- The creation of a vibrant independent national umbrella body of youth-led organisations, groups and associations is long overdue! This will serve as the fulcrum for youth voices and youth input into national decision-making processes.
All parties seeking political power must take note that the Ghanaian youth will vote on issues in the upcoming elections. Making youth issues the focus of parties’ policy agendas will therefore be a wise thing to do. Political parties and candidates must demonstrate, beyond rhetoric, that they are committed to effective youth participation and development; doing so on the basis of a sound and comprehensive agenda for youth.
Happy International Youth Day!
#LeaveNoYouthBehind
