Members of the adolescent parliament in Sunyani, the Bono regional capital, have appealed to whichever political party will form the next government to prioritise issues concerning children, such as education, child protection, healthcare and livelihoods.

According to them, the present and the next government must listen to the children and young people, get them involved in decision-making processes and create policies that will address their needs and concerns. 

They added, "The government now or the future must put the voices of children and young people at the centre of everything they do”.

The adolescent parliament, led by speaker Daniel Sarkodie Frimpong, further asked the next government to focus on promoting equal opportunities and reducing inequalities amongst children and young people.

“Everyone should have a fair chance to succeed regardless of their background and upbringing,” the adolescent parliament emphasised.

They underscored the need for children and young people, especially those whose families are financially challenged, to have greater access to opportunities and resources that will enable them to succeed.

"Ambitious goals for children and young people require a change in the way we view children's lives and how we influence them, and that must be the concern for political parties wanting to govern the country," the adolescents pointed out.

The young people from Sunyani also invited civil society and other children advocacy groups to join the campaign to draw the attention of duty bearers to these critical issues concerning children.

They added, "Together, we can create a brighter future for all children and young people, so let's advocate positive change now".

The adolescent parliament also called on all electorate to critically consider the welfare of children when voting because children in Ghana want to continue to live in a safe environment before, during and after the December 7 election.

"We want to return to school and continue to learn after the elections, and we wish to remind all duty bearers, especially the security agencies and all political actors, that Ghana must be the winner in the December 7 election because when Ghana wins, children win, and when children win, Ghana will prosper forever," they stated.

The adolescent parliament in Sunyani is part of the Resilient City for Adolescents Project, being implemented by the Sunyani-based Global Media Foundation (GLoMeF) and its primary partners, Citizens Watch Ghana and Indigenous Women Empowerment Network.

The Botnar Foundation is providing £329,000 in funding for the implementation of the 3-year project in the Sunyani Municipality under its initiative–Healthy Cities for Adolescents, through Ecorys UK, an international provider of research and communication services.