Deepening Democracy In Africa: The Role Of The Ghanaian Youth

A new “Wind of Change” is blowing across the landscape of Africa. This new wind is bringing about the democratic transformation of the continent from Cape Town to Cairo and from Dakar to Dar es Salam. For example, in 1984, only four countries on the continent have held multi-party elections. But do multi-party elections alone denote democracy?

The answer is NO. This is because we have seen the use of multi-party elections in Africa by some leaders as a ritual to remain in power. Some of these multi-party elections have also degenerated into violence and sometimes civil wars in some of our countries.

The Youth are not only a subject for policy development: youth can and must play a key role in the design, elaboration, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the policies that concern them. The youth of any society are the soul of that society, the very essence that makes the society progress, regress or digress. The relationship between the youth and the community is as intrinsic as the spin of the particles that make up the atoms. It is against this background that I feel the role of the Ghanaian youth is immense and imperative in deepening democracy in Africa.

Democracy comes from the Greek and literally means “rule by the people”. The underlining factor here is active participation, which means that Ghanaian youth should be actively participative; but at the same time properly guided and organized. They should understand that democracy is a goal and that they are obliged to contribute towards achieving it, and if that goal is not achieved it is because they have assumed a passive role with their capacity and strength to the detriment of deepening democracy in Africa.

For a true democratic culture to be entrenched in Africa to bring about sustained growth and development. Such a culture must be anchored on the youth coming together to take charge of political, social and economic affairs of the African continent in order to vindicate the faith of the common man in democracy. In Africa, youngster are not given any importance, this can be proven by a fact that most of the heads of youth organizations are persons aged above 40 or sometimes even 60 plus. I sometimes wonder how a person above 35 years can be termed as a “Youth”. Africa needs a movement to eradicate the evils of Corruption, Red-Tapism, Mafia raj, etc. The educated class of the Ghanaian Youth should be promoted as the representatives of the largest democracy in Africa: they have the vision, compassion, dedication to do something meaningful. All they need is the support.

Our politicians on one hand oppose catechism and on another they introduce reservations, what kind of hypocrisy and double standards are these? I think they have ruined the future of millions of youngsters to safeguard their own vote-banks. The young generation of Ghana should promote a single “sacred religion” of Africa and urge people to vote for the candidate based on his character and work rather than on his caste or religion. They should chalk out an overall development plan for the continent and promote rural industrialization, privatization of ailing government sectors, employment opportunities, eradicate illiteracy, corruption, etc. Ghanaian Youth has the power to present a new face of Africa in the global market and the talent to make Africa a developed continent.

The Ghanaian Youth must believe in the importance of key democratic values, such as tolerance for divergent views, support for the rule of law and principles of justice and equality and learn to analyze and absorb them. In order for Africa’s democracy to develop and endure, the Ghanaian Youth must take ownership of the system by becoming informed participants. Informed participation occurs only when the youth understand the meaning of citizenship, politics and government and have acquired the skills to voice their concerns and hold the system accountable.

Also, it is essential to have an informed, aware, proactive and participative youth group in order to achieve a superior level of democratic excellence. And with the direct participation of the Ghanaian Youth who are informed, aware and well guided and directed, a sustainable democracy, with all its facets of rule of law, equality, equal representation is not all that impossible.

Also, it is of vital placement that the strength of future development a continent has is a sole function of its youth. The bright future of any continent is always predicated on its present youth productive force. A society with a mirage youth force is not far from an abyss of serious irreparable damage. It is therefore imperative that government should not wait on a soothsayer before embarking on programmes and policies that can impact positively on its youth.

Ultimately, the entrenchment of a democratic culture in Africa is the responsibility of all Africans. Friends of Africa can help where they can, but the heavy lifting is our responsibility and ours alone. Frantz Fanon says it best when he opined that “Each generation in its relative nebulosity must discover its mission, and then fulfill or betray it”. Our mission as Ghanaian Youth today is to “Deepen Africa’s democratic efforts” for the growth and development of our continent. Will we fulfill it or betray it?

Long Live Ghana!!!
Long Live Africa!!!
Signed
Anuwar-Sadat Amadu Nubanie
Email: [email protected]
NB: The writer is holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting (B.Com (Hons)), is a practicing Customer Service (Experience) Specialist, a writer and a Youth activist.