Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, former Minister for Education and NPP flagbearer hopeful, has urged Ghanaian youth to approach political communication with discernment, cautioning that much of the negativity in public discourse is deliberately shaped to influence electoral choices rather than present an accurate picture of national realities.
He made the remarks while addressing graduates at the 49th Congregation Ceremony of Christian Service University, where he warned that uncritical acceptance of pessimistic political narratives could erode the confidence and aspirations of young people.
Dr. Adutwum noted that during election periods, political messaging is often driven by exaggeration, selective facts, and fear-mongering, strategies he said are designed to secure power but frequently leave the youth confused, disillusioned, and distracted from pursuing meaningful opportunities.
He cautioned that repeated claims portraying Ghana as a country in perpetual decline should be questioned. According to him, such messages are not always grounded in evidence but are crafted to emotionally sway voters, particularly first-time and undecided young voters.
The former minister therefore encouraged young Ghanaians to interrogate political claims, verify information from credible sources, and clearly separate propaganda from measurable governance outcomes. He stressed that political awareness must be anchored in facts rather than sentiment.
Dr. Adutwum warned that consuming political information without scrutiny could breed pessimism and inactivity among the youth, at a time when the country requires their creativity, innovation, and active participation in national development.
Despite acknowledging the country’s challenges, he maintained that Ghana’s prospects remain promising, insisting that progress made over the years should not be dismissed because of partisan competition.
He urged the youth to channel their energies toward solutions, opportunities, and nation-building instead of being consumed by political hostility and division.
“The future of Ghana belongs to the youth,” he stated, adding that sustainable progress would be driven not by political noise but by informed citizens who demand accountability while contributing positively to society.
Touching on education and social equity, Dr. Adutwum highlighted Ghana’s achievement of gender parity at the secondary education level, attributing the milestone largely to the Free Senior High School policy, which he said helped remove barriers that had long disadvantaged girls.
However, he challenged universities and policymakers to address lingering inequalities at the tertiary level, particularly in programme selection, where women remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines.
He further stressed the need for political discussions to move beyond slogans and focus on preparing young people for a rapidly evolving global economy shaped by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where adaptability and continuous learning are essential.
Dr. Adutwum called on universities to redesign their curricula to prioritise critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills, noting that graduates must be equipped to navigate multiple career paths over their lifetime.
He expressed confidence in Christian Service University’s capacity to produce graduates who are not only employable but also politically aware and socially responsible.