CDS Africa Climaxes Youth Democracy
Forum At The University Of Ghana

The Africa Center for Socioeconomic Development, CDS Africa has organized the
final series of the Youth Democracy Forum at Cedi Conference Hall, University of Ghana.

The Africa Center for Socioeconomic Development, CDS Africa has organized the final series of the Youth Democracy Forum at Cedi Conference Hall, University of Ghana. The event which was held on Friday, May 31, 2024, brought together students and industry players with sterling careers in the area of promoting democracy and academia such as Prof. Alidu Seidu, Head of Political Science Department, University of Ghana, Lucille Hewlett Annan (Esq.), the Acting Commission Secretary and Right To Information (RTI) Officer at the NCCE, Hon. Seyram Alhassan, MP, Ayawaso West Wuogon.

The three-part series started in the first quarter of the year with GIMPA Law School, followed by WISCONSIN International University College and finally the University of Ghana. Premised on the theme “Deepening Youth participation in the democratic process”, the forum sought to highlight the role of Ghanaian youth in Ghana’s democratic process. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Head of Research and Policy at CDS Africa, Dr. Abena Boateng highlighted the critical role played by the youth in safeguarding democracy across the globe, adding that the Youth Democracy Forum was an avenue for the youth who are important stakeholders of Ghana’s democracy to hold leaders accountable and ask critical questions.

Gifty Adoboah, a student leader, spoke on the need to involve the youth in the decision-making process since they constitute a greater percentage of our population. According to her, youth participation in Ghana’s democracy is a mandate enshrined in the constitution; as such, young people need to be empowered to make their voices heard. In her words, the Ghanaian youth can play a critical role in shaping the country’s political landscape.

In his address, Justice Alor, speaker of the University of Ghana Students Parliament urged the youth to fully participate in the electoral process as our tomorrow begins today.

The MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, drew attention to the importance of investing in the youth as they drive our quest to achieve growth. She also encouraged the youth to seize every opportunity to serve.

Prof. Alidu Seidu on his part stressed how culture hinders the youth from showing interest in the democratic process which he described as worrying. In his view, it is about time we pay attention to the needs of the youth.

Lucille Hewlett Annan (Esq.), the Acting Commission Secretary and Right to Information (RTI) Officer at the NCCE shared a different perspective that the youth are not marginalized as often said. Still, the budding question is how prepared they are to participate in the democratic process. She shared that several Ghanaian youths were unprepared to register to vote. Concluding her remarks, Madam Lucille expressed that participation also required training and that preparation was key despite the absence of structures that would aid youth participation in Ghana’s democratic process.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Panelists and participants at the forum made the following recommendations:
• Ghanaian youth must be involved in the decision-making process but most importantly there should be an inter-generational dialogue which will allow the older generation to not only interact with them but also pass on their knowledge to the youth.
• Participating in Ghana’s democratic process begins with showing interest in our electoral process, as such the youth should develop an interest in our electoral process.
• The ideology that the youth have not come of age to handle matters of the economy better than our elders should be a thing of the past.

CONCLUSION

The Youth Democracy Forum has not only given the youth a platform to be heard but has also succeeded in whipping up their interest in issues centering on democracy and their contribution to the overall growth of our nation. CDS Africa intends to make this initiative a nationwide affair, allowing the youth across the length and breadth of Ghana to wholly accept that they have a part to play in Ghana’s democratic process.