Accra hosts CDD-Ghana’s next 'Youth Speaks Forums'

The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), in collaboration with the Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF), will hold the next session of the "Youth Speaks Forum," an initiative aimed at stimulating the interest of Ghanaian youth in national politics and governance processes, on Thursday, August 13.

Three further fora scheduled for the month of August will be held on the 17th, 19th, and 24th at Nalerigu in the North East Region, Bolgantanga in the Upper East Region and Wa in the Upper West Region respectively.

Themed 'Engendering National and Local Level Conversations on Youth Issues ahead of Ghana's 2020 Elections,' the Youth Speaks Forums seek to promote dialogue between political actors and the youth, and serve as a platform on which the youth can provide critical feedback on political parties' policies and programmes towards their development.

The Accra event on Thursday will be streamed live on Graphic Online's Facebook page, dailygraphicghana.

Senior Programs Officer at CDD-Ghana, Regina Oforiwa Amanfo explains that the forums are in line with the Center's continual advocacy for the inclusion and effective engagement of the youth in governance processes.

"Ghana's youthful population can be an asset for the nation if the enormous abilities and intellect of the youth are channeled towards national development," she said. "Unfortunately, the youth have very limited opportunities to engage in governance processes beyond the exercise of their franchise."

The Youth Speaks Forums are planned to be held in the capital towns of all 16 regions of Ghana.

At the Forums, various political parties will highlight the policies and programmes for youth development outlined in their manifestos, after which the youth will have the opportunity to interrogate these policies and highlight what they consider to be the most important issues that political parties should pay attention to. 

The Youth Speaks Forums form part of CDD-Ghana's "Electoral Support Project" and is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID-Ghana).