Ghana’s innovative Adolescent Parliament initiative in Sunyani has attracted international attention, with experts in India hailing it as a model for promoting youth participation in urban governance and city development.
The project, spearheaded by the Sunyani-based Global Media Foundation (GloMeF) under its Resilient Cities for Adolescents (RCA) programme, was recently showcased in Jaipur, India, during a collaborative exchange with the World Resources Institute (WRI) India.
Mr. Raphael Godlove Ahenu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GloMeF, led the Ghanaian delegation to share experiences from the RCA project, which is being implemented simultaneously in both Ghana and India as part of the Healthy Cities for Adolescents (HCA) Programme, funded by Fondation Botnar.
According to a statement issued by GloMeF, the Adolescent Parliament in Sunyani has become a success story, empowering young people to influence local decision-making and shaping policies that directly affect their wellbeing.
“Adolescents are not just beneficiaries of development, but powerful change agents,” the statement stressed. “Through platforms like the Adolescent Parliament, we are ensuring that young people have a voice in shaping their cities and influencing decisions that affect their daily lives.”
WRI India officials, inspired by Ghana’s community-driven governance model, shared their own innovations around adolescent health, safety, mobility, and access to opportunities. Both teams agreed to adapt and replicate successful practices across different urban contexts.
By placing adolescents at the centre of governance, the HCA Programme seeks to strengthen equity, health outcomes, and inclusive city planning. Officials said the ongoing collaboration would include joint learning sessions, field visits, and knowledge-sharing platforms.
The Sunyani-led model, now influencing global practice, highlights how youth participation can help create healthier, safer, and more resilient cities for the future.
