Youth Parliament To Hold Governments Accountable For Better Governance

Ghana endorsed the African Youth Charter as a response to combatting the increasing disconnection of the African youth from the processes of democratic governance, since July 2006, with 30 other African Heads of States.

It is in response to this that Tears of Africa, a UK based NGO in partnership with other NGOs launched a youth empowerment project through the creation of a parliament dubbed: Youth Leadership Parliament (YLP).

Youth Parliament is a platform for young people between the ages of 15-40 years. It's an opportunity for the youth of Ghana to hold leaders accountable for the management of state resources and to engages policy makers on core issues that impact on the future of the youth of Ghana.

Youth Parliament will appoint its Ministers of State and Members of Parliament for the 275 constituencies in Ghana to engage individual incumbent MPs and highlight on alternatives on policy that can improve the lives of young people.

It is also seeking to facilitate frequent dialogues between government and the youth, and most importantly get young people to run projects that will benefit mainly the youth since this is the way forward to advancing the development of tomorrow's leaders.

On the 30th of March 2016, the Youth leadership parliament was inaugurated at the International Conference Centre. Over 300 student leaders from across the country, constituting the SRC, NUGS, PUSAG, ordinary Ghana citizen, attended this event.

Some personalities who graced the event included Presidential Candidate of the CPP, Mr. Kobina Ivor Greenstreet, National Youth Organiser of the NPP, Sammy Awuku, a representative of the IGP, DCOP Ransford Ninson and founder of Youth Icons Ghana, Nana Osei Darkwa.

Addressing the official inauguration, Special Guest Speaker of the event, ace Journalist Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr., endorsed the creation of Youth Parliament as a great idea and long awaited.

Members of the Parliament to demonstrate their readiness and equip themselves with the needed leadership skills of the 21st century to reverse the decay in modern day governance for a better Ghana,? Mr. Pratt stated.

He reminded them of the legacy of the founding fathers of the great nation, Ghana.

Mr. Pratt further bemoaned how in recent years corruption and neo-colonialism had pillaged the country.

"We have seen the wanton sale of state resources and assets which has not benefited Ghana in any way," the ace journalist lamented.

On his part, CPP Flagbearer, Mr. Ivor Greenstreet, expressed excitement and welcomed the initiative of young people taking up the leadership mantle.

The Speaker of Youth Parliament, Rt. Hon Kobby Fabian in his speech, observed that for many years, the youth of Ghana had been taken for granted by leaders of this country.

"Young people have been left to walk alone for far too long. Social intervention programmes are designed for young people without even consulting them on what truly their needs are. It is unacceptable to think that government understands better the challenges that face the youth than the youth themselves," concerned Youth Leader emphasized.