A youth-led policy brief unveiled in the Volta Region is calling on municipal and district assemblies to move beyond symbolic engagement and institutionalise young people in local governance structures.
The recommendations emerged from a regional consultation organised by the Gender and Reproductive Advocacy Youth Network (GRAY Network) under its project, Strengthening Inclusive Governance in Ghana through Youth and Women Leadership Development and Advocacy. The initiative is funded by the High Commission of Canada to Ghana, Togo and Sierra Leone through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.
Presented at a policy dialogue forum attended by youth and municipal duty bearers, the brief outlines a seven-pillar reform agenda centred on participation, education, economic empowerment, information access, digital inclusion, safe civic spaces, and partnerships.
According to Mr Godsway Mensah, Programmes Manager of GRAY Network, the policy document was shaped by extensive stakeholder engagements across Ho, Hohoe, South Tongu and North Tongu. In total, 2,464 young people — including those in and out of school, persons with disabilities, and adolescents under 18 — contributed their perspectives.
He explained that the consultations revealed a strong desire among young people to actively participate in governance, but persistent barriers such as limited representation in decision-making spaces, poor access to civic information, and economic vulnerability continue to exclude them.
To address these gaps, the brief proposes structural reforms including the establishment of youth advisory desks and committees within district and municipal assemblies, logistical and technical support for youth-led initiatives, and stronger civic and leadership education in schools. It also advocates promoting STEM pathways and entrepreneurship, removing barriers affecting young women, and strengthening disability inclusion.
The forum brought together representatives from the National Youth Authority (NYA), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), and planning and budget departments of the Municipal Assembly.
Mr Charlse Gomenu, Ho Municipal Director of the NYA, acknowledged that youth development efforts often face funding constraints, with assemblies prioritising internal expenditures and relying heavily on international partners due to limited corporate sponsorship.
However, he pointed to renewed national efforts, citing President John Dramani Mahama’s apprenticeship programme as a sign of government commitment to equipping young people with practical skills and improving future prospects.
Participants described the engagement as transformative. Ms Valerie Setsofia, a student of OLA Girls Senior High School, said the forum broadened her understanding of policymaking and inclusive governance, while empowering young people to see themselves as contributors to development rather than passive beneficiaries.
Mr Mensah emphasised that youth inclusion must be treated as a strategic investment rather than a symbolic gesture.
“Youth inclusion is not only a social responsibility — it is a pathway to responsive governance and sustainable local development,” he said, urging duty bearers to transition from consultation to collaboration and ultimately to co-decision-making with young people.
