The National Youth Authority (NYA), in collaboration with the Nabdam District Assembly with funding support from the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) project, has inaugurated a Youth Parliament in the district to champion development.
The Youth Parliament, which is non-partisan in nature, aims at providing a platform for the youth of the district, drawn from various communities and youth groups, to articulate their views, express their concerns, aspirations, and innovative ideas that could shape the district and the country’s development at large.
It also focused on building their capacities in valuable leadership skills to advocate their rights and interests by bringing forth local and national issues affecting their communities while holding duty bearers accountable.
Mr Francis Takyi Koranteng, the Upper East Regional Director of the NYA, revealed this when he addressed members of the youth parliament and other stakeholders at the inaugural ceremony at the District Assembly under the theme “Empowering youth, Enriching democracy”.
Mr Koranteng emphasised that the National Youth Parliament concept in Ghana started more than 15 years ago to provide a single formalised youth structure at the community, district, regional, and national levels for youth to air their frustration and deliberate on matters of importance to youth development.
Mr Peter Philosopher Atsina, the District Youth Director, said the responsibility of the youth parliament was crucial, as they were expected to keenly participate in discussions and debates, bringing into view ideas supported by facts and work with their peers and local leaders to address pressing youth issues.
He said the noble members were to serve as ambassadors in their communities by connecting with other young people and ensuring their voices were included in their deliberations while upholding the principle of integrity, respect, and inclusivity, recognising that every voice mattered.
Alhaji Amin Abdul-Rahman, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development, said in a speech read on his behalf, that the inauguration of the youth parliament signified the importance the SOCO project placed on youth development.
He emphasised that while the project was to empower the youth, it was important that they took advantage of the opportunity given to unite and champion development for the betterment of the district.
Madam Elizabeth Ohenewah Agyei, the Coordinator of the SOCO project, indicated that one key focus of the project was to provide a voice to communities, and in doing so, the youth were considered in every engagement of the project activity given the role they played in community development.
She expressed excitement for the turnout of the youth for the inauguration ceremony and charged them to advance and debate on issues that would build a resilient community and enhance development in the district.
Madam Agnes Anamoo, the District Chief Executive for Nabdam, described the inauguration of the youth parliament as historic, stressing that it was the first platform given mainly to young people to participate in decision-making at the local level.
She thanked sponsors of the SOCO project for funding the inauguration and operationalisation of the youth parliament.
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