The last of the series of debates involving youth representatives of the various political parties, has ended at the University of Ghana campus, Legon, where debaters tackled unemployment and corruption among others.
The debate series was designed to provide a platform to assess which of the parties in this year’s election best responds to issues affecting the youth and women.
The event took place at Legon with a packed audience of very articulate young persons, representing the various major political parties. The NDC’s Lawrence Lamptey insisted the Government has created lots of jobs particularly in the construction sector in the ongoing massive infrastructural development projects, and is set to even give more jobs should it be maintained.
But the NPP’s representative at the debate, Abu Jinapor, disagreed with assertions, saying the NPP’s industrialisation agenda is a blue print for job creation.
The debate, which was held in four major public universities, commenced in March 2016, and has already taken place at the University for Development Studies Tamale campus, University of Cape Coast, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi.
The Tamale Debate, which was the first, took place on the 12th of March at the University of Development Studies (UDS) campus in Tamale.
The debate train later stopped at the University of Cape Coast in the Central Region on Friday 8th of April 2016, where youth leaders of the five political parties debated on the thematic areas of poverty reduction and economic development, the right to education and skills training (Youth employment), energy and natural resources, the justice system and the rule of law and women’s empowerment.
The next debate took place at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology- KNUST in August, which was an all-female contest.
At the final event, two young persons, Gideon Tawiah Gabor and Shafic Osman, were awarded for emerging top winners among Twenty-Nine (29) winners, of the Youth Manifesto Competition, dubbed the ‘Voices Of Our Generation (VOG) Essay Competition’, on the theme, ‘What should a 2016 election manifesto say if young people mattered?’.
The top two winners were presented with a laptop and books, whereas the rest of the participants also received books such as Obama’ Audacity of Hope” among others, together with certificates.
The Competition challenged the youth to draw up a manifesto that captures their needs and aspirations.
African Heights Foundation, a youth civic advocacy group in Ghana supported by OSIWA, put together both the essay competition and the youth debate series.
The youth debate series was a collaborative work between the two organizations and the universities debate societies, to address issues that affect the youth and women which are often overlooked.
About African Heights Foundation
The African Heights Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, based in Accra, Ghana, dedicated to using the tools of education, advocacy and civic participation to raise leaders and active citizens excelling in various sectors of society in Ghana and Africa.
The Foundation aims at strengthening democratic values and increasing citizens’ participation in decision making processes and thereby contributing to improved policies and practices that affects people’s lives.
The Foundation also focuses on developing leaders and citizens with a sound understanding and a deep commitment to quality education, democracy, economic development and human rights as underlying values for building a peaceful, prosperous and ambitious country.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana