By Raymond Rex Awiagah

The Ghana Youth Manifesto Report Validation Workshop successfully took place at the Balme Library, University of Ghana, Legon on November 23, 2023, in Accra, bringing together youth representatives, stakeholders, and policymakers from various sectors.

Organized by a network of youth groups and supported by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs”s) such as FOSDA Ghana, Eduwatch, WANEP, Action Aid/Global Platform, OXFAM in Ghana, Norsaac, YAG and Yell-Ghana, the workshop engaged the  Ghanaian youth in shaping future policies and initiatives.

The workshop brought together an array of stakeholders, partners, and youth groups to review and validate the findings of the Ghana Youth Manifesto Report. The report is the culmination of a several-month project that has consulted with thousands of young people across the 16 regions of Ghana to identify their priorities and aspirations for the future through a survey Instrument. 

Also, the workshop offered a platform for the young Ghanaians to voice their opinions, concerns, and aspirations, actively contributing to the development of the nation's youth-focused agenda on key themes and priorities. 

This includes education, employment, entrepreneurship, health, gender equality, climate change, peace and security. By focusing on these areas, the Ghana Youth Manifesto seeks to shape policies that will support the sustainable development and well-being of young people in Ghana.

The workshop featured interactive sessions, group discussions, and presentations, creating a dynamic and inclusive environment for robust debates and constructive dialogue. Participants expressed their enthusiasm for meaningful youth participation in decision-making processes, stressing the significance of translating young people's perspectives into concrete actions.

The President of the National Network of Youth Groups, Ali Ibraheem recounted how the Ghana Youth Manifesto came into being. He said there is a need for a drastic change in minds and ways things are done so as to get better results. 

“ As we are here embarking on this particular validation, it is a time for us to celebrate because we the young people are championing a cause unlike other African countries where young people have resorted to the use of Guns but we will change policies that will better our lives”. Ali Ibraheem stated.

 According to Ibraheem, the political manifesto of political parties is not youth-centered, a situation which has resulted in massive unemployment, and hopelessness for the youth thereby forcing young people to prefer to seek greener pastures abroad.

The Executive Director of FOSDA, Madam Theodora Williams Anti said FOSDA is a Peace and Security CSO supporting the youth core groups to lead the development of the Ghana Youth manifesto for the 2024 elections and beyond. 

"And so our interest is to make sure that young people are engaged, young people are part of the decision-making process and are part of the system that can help their own development and make input into their own development affairs’" Madam Theodora Williams Anti added. 

There were solidarity messages from sister CSOs such as WANEP, Eduwatch, YAG, OXFAM in Ghana, Action Aid, Yell-Ghana and Norsaac. 

As the workshop concluded, participants expressed their satisfaction with the outcomes, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts between the government and young people to transform the aspirations outlined in the Ghana Youth Manifesto into tangible and inclusive policies.

The validated Ghana Youth Manifesto Report will be presented to key decision-makers and policymakers, urging them to prioritize youth-related issues in their agendas and actively involve the youth in the policy-making process.

In all, the Ghana Youth Manifesto Report Validation Workshop acted as a crucial milestone in ensuring that the voices and perspectives of the Ghanaian youth are heard and acted upon. It is anticipated that the outcomes of this engagement will contribute to the development of inclusive, sustainable, and youth-focused policies, fostering a brighter future for young Ghanaians.