It has been recognized the world over that the youth constitute the most important human resource potential that can contribute significantly to the overall development of a nation. There is seemingly little being done to harness this tremendous potential which will determine our strength and resilience in pursuing our social, economic and political development goals. The youth of a nation are the trustees of posterity aptly captured by a former Britain Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.
Since 1948 till 1999 the youth organizations have undergone diverse metamorphism with frequent change of names without any meaningful forward marching in the political, social, economical and cultural advancement of the state of the Ghanaian youth. A draft policy document went through various levels of consideration before being approved by cabinet and subsequently launched on 21st of July, 1999. In 2001, a youth empowerment committee set up by the government recommended among other things, the review of the 1999 youth policy. The document has since undergone a review until now.
The development of the youth pre and post independence in retrospect shows how committed the government of Ghana is towards the youth. It becomes incontrovertible therefore to say that government needs the political will to be able to face the challenges militating against the youth after 53 year of independence.
The 'Youth' which is defined as young women and men who fall within the age bracket of 15 - 35 years constitute about 33% as a heterogeneous segment of Ghana’s population according to the 2000 Ghana Housing and Population Census. This segment of the population constitutes the human resource potential which demands effective harnessing and mobilization to accelerate the rate of development of the country.
The youth in totality can be holistically categorized as rural and urban, disabled and able-bodies, educated and uneducated, employed and unemployed, in-school and out-of-school, organized and unorganized, professional and highly technical youth. The breakdown of the youth has varied characteristics, needs and aspirations as well as diverse opportunities and constrains.
There are however many major challenges facing the Ghanaian youth who seem incapacitated them in attaining their dreams and aspirations which are not farfetched. Inadequate opportunities for the youth in the educational sector, unemployment and underemployment, urbanization and modernization, growing incidences of conflicts and increasing juvenile crime, erosion of social support systems for young persons and the changing roles of the family leading to ‘streetism’, high vulnerability to hunger, malnutrition and disease, high incidence of drug and substance abuse, inadequate recreational and counseling facilities, inadequate mentoring structures for inculcating morals and values in the youth, high vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS infection and inadequate opportunities for youth participation in decision making. The youth wing of all political parties must synergize their energies in the implementation of the national youth policy. It is important to note that any atom of partisan politics directed towards the national youth policy especially by any youth or group of youth must be thrown into the dungeon for the youth are and remain the monumentum aere perennium. When the youth do not desist from pursuing their parochial interest, political ideologies and idiosyncrasies, we shall soon carry calabash on our head parading the corridors of our pensioner grandee in cacophony for leftover food.
Parliament which is the supreme forum for the ventilation of grievances aimed at seeking redress has some youth as members. Our members of parliament who are the communication link between their constituents and government have played some roles in facilitating youth independence. However much is desired of our MPs since through their parliamentary mechanisms such as questions, statements, motions, debates on policies or bills among others issues of interest to the youth can be ranked and held in high esteem. This medium seeks to humbly engage our honourable MPs to add their voices and help pass the National Youth Policy. It is worth noting that Ghana is the only member of the Commonwealth that has not implemented a National Youth Policy despite the fact that it has ratified many international treaties. The media is as well encouraged to highlight issues of interest to the youth as the fourth estate of the realm.
The main aim of the Policy is to recognize the unique contribution that the youth can make in national development, provide a commitment to meeting their needs and aspirations, as well as the necessary impetus, structures and resource commitments needed to facilitate the development of the youthful human capital. The Policy further emphasizes the multi-sectoral nature of youth development, and urges collaboration and joint efforts among stakeholders to avoid duplication and waste, and instead, ensure a common purpose and maximum utilization of resources. The purpose of this policy document is to establish the identity and status of the Ghanaian youth within the framework of government policy and to provide a direction for youth activities and involvement in national development.
For the nation to derive maximum benefit from this major resource, aside of needing supportive, participatory and informative environment to help them move successfully from the dependency of childhood to the autonomy and responsibility of adulthood, the youth, in my opinion, will need to be imbued with such societal values or qualities as a high sense of responsibility, duty and service, truthfulness, integrity, courage, dexterity and loyalty. These qualities are highly esteemed and are crucial to the building of a healthy and progressive nation.
The concept of youth empowerment is derived from the need to enable young people to have a say in decisions which affect them. Commonwealth Youth Ministers in a Communiqué issued at the end of their conference in Trinidad and Tobago in 1995 noted that pursuing the objective of youth empowerment gave young people the maximum opportunity to contribute to the economic, social and cultural advancement of their families and countries and to gain self-fulfillment.
It is my cherished hope that with the implementation of the National Youth Policy, the desired environment will be created to enable the young women and men of this country to realize their full potential to contribute meaningfully to the overall development of the nation.
By: Maxwell Klu
Student Activist
University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa Maxckenzy2001@yahoo.co.uk 0249554990
