By Robert Anane, GNA
Accra, Oct 13,
GNA – Young people have been urged to develop greater zeal for the good of the
country than partisan politics.
“If young
people could put away extreme partisanship and concentrate on building Ghana,
we will have a much better future.”
Mr. Bernard
Mornah, National Chairman for the People’s National Convention, said this at an
Alumni Networking Event, which was held in Accra, to mark the 50th anniversary of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Ghana.
He said such
behaviour by the youth, would also promote a much more vibrant democracy, with
great promise of growth.
Mr. Mornah said
it was unfortunate that in Ghana, the participation of young people in politics
was hindered to a large extent because of lack of funding.
He said there
was the need to find the means of supporting young people to actively
participate in politics, for a more vibrant and productive democracy.
Mr. Mornah said
civic education also had to be intensified towards ensuring, that the citizenry
were well aware of their rights and responsibilities.
He added that there
was also the need for the economy of the country to be fully owned by
Ghanaians, because democracy was not only about elections, but also, how much
ownership and participation the citizenry had concerning the key affairs of the
country.
Mr. Francis
Tetteh, Eastern Regional Youth Chairman of the Trades Union Congress, said the
country needed a constitution that typically promoted economic growth.
He said this
was key to ensuring a vibrant democracy, adding that all had to be done to
ensure a credible and trustworthy democracy.
Mr. Tetteh said
it was also important to ensure a completely trustworthy judicial system,
because it was not possible to have a thriving democracy without an efficient
judicial system.
Both speakers
are past students of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Youth Leadership Training
Programme in Ghana.
The Youth
Leadership Training Programme of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, is a year-long
programme, which is organised for young professionals with proven political
abilities and interests.
It mainly seeks
to promote social democracy, good governance and socio economic growth, as well
as the general well-being of the individual.
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
was founded in 1925 as the political legacy of Germany’s first democratically
elected President, Friedrich Ebert.
The Foundation
was banned by the Nazis in 1933 and re-established in 1947.
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
has over 100 locations in Africa, Asia, Middle East, Latin America, North
America and Europe.
As a
non-governmental, non-profit institution, the Foundation is committed to the
ideas and basic values of social democracy.
GNA
