Network for Human Rights educates youth… Against dependency syndrome at Peace Forum
THE YOUTH Network for Human Rights and Democracy has organised a peace forum at Adankrangya in the Bekwai Constituency, in recognition of the need for a continued commitment to a comprehensive capacity building at all levels of society, and the establishment of dialogue mechanisms and processes as the most effective means of building peace in society.
The Peace Forum, which was under the theme:” Youth for Peace”, was aimed at educating the youth in the Bekwai constituency, which became a boiling spot during the December 2008 elections, creating factionalism among the youth in the constituency, on the need to unite and rally behind their authorities to push the developmental agenda of the constituency forward.
The Executive Director of Youth Network for Peace, Prosper Hoetu, stressed that the network decided to organise the peace forum to encourage the youth to work hard to change the perception that youth were the most violent segment of the society.
Mr. Hoetu also commended the German Development Services (DED) for supporting the programme, and expressed the hope that by the end of the forum, the participants would appreciate the need to use dialogue in the resolution of conflicts in society.
Addressing the forum, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bekwai Constituency, Hon. Joseph Osei-Wusu, noted that the nation was grappling with a high rate of youth unemployment, because there was high rate of “dependency syndrome” among the youth.
He said many young people with the requisite employable skills, often tend to rely on the government or politicians for assistance, rather than taking their own initiatives, adding, “in the event that these assistances are not forthcoming, the youth are left with no choice than to engage themselves in negative tendencies, which eventually lead to violence.”
MP Osei-Wusu emphasised on the need for the youth to take advantage of the system provided by the leadership of the country to enrich their potentials, instead of looking up to the government.
Osei-Wusu urged the youth throughout the country to develop a “can-do” and entrepreneur spirit, rather than resorting to the government and politicians in the country for their means of survival.
The MP further advocated for more openness and transparency in the country's political and chieftaincy system of administration, to get the Ghanaian youth actively involved, since they constituted the most socially active and energetic segment of the population.
Hon. Osei-Wusu also advised the youth in the constituency to put the past behind them, and forge ahead in unity, to ensure the development of the constituency.
The Acting Ashanti South Divisional Police Commander, Supt. Felix Kwasi Cosmos, urged the youth to channel their strengths and resources into more productive ventures, and avoid acts that could retard their progress in society.
He noted that the exploitation of youth for t purposes, always take so many forms, some of which include political intolerance, land and chieftaincy disputes, and the unequal distribution of state resources.