Increased youth participation in local governance processes is helping strengthen accountability and transparency in district assemblies, the Upper East Regional Coordinator of Activista Ghana, Nicholas Azebire, has said.
Speaking during a radio discussion on local governance reforms organized by RISE-Ghana under the HEARD II Project, Mr Azebire highlighted the importance of young people taking active interest in assembly proceedings, including the review of budgets and reports such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) report.
According to him, youth involvement in governance processes enables citizens to hold local authorities accountable for development commitments made in their communities.
“The LEAP report alone took a chunk of the time during an ordinary assembly session because assembly members felt there was the need to streamline activities and address issues properly,” Mr Azebire said.
He noted that young assembly members played a critical role in scrutinizing the report and demanding answers on issues affecting beneficiaries and communities.
“They argued extensively because they understood that if the concerns were not addressed, they could not return to their communities and explain the situation to residents,” he added.
Mr Azebire cited the example of the Kassena-Nankana West District Assembly, where several young assembly members demonstrated strong commitment during deliberations by carefully reviewing reports and development plans.
He stressed that many young people fail to appreciate the importance of participating in local governance processes, including budget hearings and assembly meetings, despite being directly affected by decisions taken at that level.
According to him, understanding assembly budgets and reports equips citizens with the information needed to question their representatives and demand accountability for projects promised in their communities.
He called on more young people to participate in governance processes and seek leadership positions, arguing that their perspectives are essential to addressing current development challenges.
The discussion formed part of efforts by RISE Ghana and its partners to promote inclusive governance and increase the participation of women, youth and marginalized groups in decision-making processes at the local level.
