Greater youth participation in governance advocated

Mr Seth Oteng, Executive Director of Youth Bridge Foundation, on Wednesday said empowerment and greater participation of the youth in governance were crucial for successful elections and economic development in Africa.

“Refusing to carefully analyse and properly establish and direct such roles of the youth in the building block of any society and country can be an expensive path to travel on,” he said.

Mr Oteng said these when the Foundation in collaboration with the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) – Ghana, organised a national stakeholder’s dialogue on Election 2012 concerns, to launch ‘Youth Facing Elections: Crossroad-GH2012’ project, in Accra.

It was on the theme: “Dialogue and Mutual Understanding: A wheel for Peaceful Election 2012.”

He said the dialogue was to profile stakeholders concerns and elicit commitment, to address issues of transparency, free, fair and peaceful Election 2012.

The Foundation is a youth non-governmental organisation that advocates responsible participation of the youth in social, economic and democratic processes, for peaceful conduct of elections for a sustainable development.

Mr Oteng said as part of the project, the Foundation in partnership with the Electoral Commission and other youth organisations would undertake youth-friendly approaches to voter education.

He said there would be advocacy for youth inclusiveness at every stage in the election process, campaign for youth non-violent participation in Election 2012, and policy dialogue in election year as a barometer for post-election engagements.

Dr Anthony Cudjoe, Chief Executive Officer, Emerging Leaders Africa, urged the youth not to allow politicians to use them as instruments for electoral violence, and called on them to be worthy ambassadors of peace for Election 2012.

Source: GNA