Former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, has urged young people interested in politics to be purposeful about their interest in politics. 

Speaking at a workshop in Accra last Wednesday, he explained that making meaningful contributions in politics required them to show themselves approved of their calling, hence the need for them to engage deeply with political philosophies and commit themselves to the ideas, beliefs, and values that guide effective governance.

“Study to become the technocratic governors of tomorrow,” he said, underscoring the need for them to study parliamentary documents and gain a strong understanding of political processes.

He added that the problems that confronted the country required leaders with practical knowledge to solve them, saying the politics of the future should not be about differences, saying, “You people must come together to have a stance towards the advancement of our people”. 

Project

The workshop formed part of the official launch of an EU-funded project to bolster the involvement of young people and women in political parties and democratic processes.

Dubbed Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE), the project is being implemented in partnership with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Ghana Office and the European Network of Political Foundations (ENoP).

It aims to enhance internal party democracy and develop inclusive policies across Africa.

As part of the project, 30 young leaders who form part of the project’s first cohort were selected from universities and political groups such as TEIN, TESCON, and NUGS, among others.

They will undergo a six-month training, which will feature mentorship and training sessions among other initiatives. 

Trust

The KAS Ghana Country Representative, Anna Lena Sabroso-Wasserfall, expressed gratitude to the European Union for entrusting the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) with the implementation of the initiative.

“This trust is both an encouragement and a responsibility, one that we take very seriously. 

“Our core mandate has remained unchanged: the promotion of political participation and the empowerment of young people,” she said

Expressing gratitude to the experienced politicians who will serve as mentors, Sabroso-Wasserfall emphasised the crucial role of experienced politicians in connecting theory with practice for the next generation of leaders.

“Sustainable political participation requires role models, institutional openness, and the opportunity to learn directly from experience,” she stated.

Leadership

The Executive Director of the European Network of Political Foundations (ENoP), Gary Klaukka, underscored the urgent need for increased youth involvement in political decision-making processes.

He mentioned aging leadership as a significant challenge facing political systems globally.

“Those involved in political parties are from the older generations. What we need is younger people to be involved in political decision-making,” Klaukka said, stressing the necessity of training young leaders to formulate forward-thinking political visions in a rapidly changing global landscape.

“We must provide young people with the tools to build the kind of democracy that aligns with their vision for Ghana,” he added.

For his part, NUGS President Rashid Ibrahim said his outfit remained committed to promoting youth participation and encouraging issue-based leadership for national cohesion.