Growing Younger With Time; A Key To Sustainable Development

In as much as this statement sounds a bit paradoxical, any human organisation that seeks to develop sustainably must grow younger with time. What do I mean by growing younger with time? I mean being willing to delegate more power to the youth as we grow as a nation. I mean strategically positioning the youth in various institutions to be well trained and equipped to take up the baton from the older generation.

I mean not sidelining the views of the youth in any decision making process. I mean being able as a nation, to encourage and support the youth to be innovative. I mean putting up centres that can train the young people of Africa to think differently and believe they are capable of changing the fate of this continent without depending on the western world. I mean harnessing the talents and passions of the youth and transforming them for national development.

The attitude of the present and past governments shows the popular saying, ‘the youth are the future of our country,’ often used is a bait that is only used to canvass for votes and beyond the campaign platforms, the statement means absolutely nothing to them. But I believe one way to manage the plights of Ghana and Africa is when the youth are actively involved. If steps are not put in place to start equipping them for future leadership positions, they will also grow to repeat what a minister of state once said: ‘I’m now gathering the necessary experience to do the work.’

Is he to blame? No! The problem is our inability to involve the youth, train and equip them for the future. Many ministers of states and other public officials have turned their cosy offices into ‘casinos of acquiring experience’ where they gamble with the destinies of the good people of the land. And until sometime is quickly done, when their time has come, the youth would also step into those same shoes of inexperience and the cycle of mismanagement, misappropriation, corruption, indecisiveness and judgment debts will continue.

But should the youth wait on a ‘clueless’ entity to come to their rescue? Absolutely not! The youth must be prepared to invest in themselves and when given the opportunity, they must prove their worth. Youth represents the stage of braveness, positivity, unlimited possibilities and the courage to stand out against the norms of our societies. And indeed a section of the young sons and daughters of Africa are sending strong signals to the world that there is hope for Africa.

Mind-blowing inventions are being made by the youth; great entrepreneurs and radical politicians are rising from the youthful domain. I can see the tears in the eyes of Mama Africa being gradually dried. Yes, mother Africa is proudly telling the Western world, “See, my young generation is tired of your torments, they now have discernment to recognise your disguises and in due season, they won’t come running to you for help again because they would be capable of managing their own affairs.”

If we really want to progress as a country and as a continent (which we should be making) we must be prepared to grow younger with time to ensure a sustainable development.

Author: Elorm Apediavu Hermann ([email protected])