Young people must be at the table, not merely spoken about – NYA CEO Osman Ayariga
NYA CEO calls for meaningful youth participation in Ghana’s decision-making processes.
Osman Abdulai Ayariga, CEO of the National Youth Authority, has called for young people to engage in political discourse in a more meaningful way. He emphasized that participation should center on citizenship and national development, rather than just partisan politics. Ayariga explained that involving young people in political discourse means empowering them to understand and question policies that impact education, employment, businesses, communities, and the environment.
He stressed that young people should be bold enough to ask tough questions, respectfully challenge policies, propose alternatives, and hold public institutions accountable. Ayariga pointed out that democratic participation comes with both rights and responsibilities. He clarified that discussions about including young people in political discourse are not limited to partisan politics, but rather about citizenship.
He cautioned against viewing civic participation solely through the lens of social media exchanges and partisan debates. Ayariga urged young people to bring their ideas and concerns into their communities, schools, workplaces, youth organizations, and formal democratic institutions. He stressed that the effectiveness of youth participation depends on how informed and constructive young people are in expressing their views.
According to Ayariga, a young person's voice holds more weight when it is well-informed, constructive, and solution-oriented.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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