Dr. Joseph Wemakor Urges Authorities to Create Opportunities for Youth in Local Governance

The Convener of the Ghana CSOs Platform on SDGs (Youth), Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, has urged government authorities to ensure inclusive youth participation in local governance and to create opportunities for meaningful involvement in decision-making processes.

Dr. Wemakor made the call during a Regional Youth Engagement on Leadership Participation held at the Church of Pentecost Hall in Maamobi, Ayawaso North Municipality, which brought together about 100 youth leaders from districts, municipalities and metropolitan areas across the Greater Accra Region.

Speaking on behalf of Group Five during breakout sessions, Dr. Wemakor emphasised that youth inclusion should go beyond consultation and called for practical avenues that would allow young people to engage in planning, implementation, and monitoring of development projects at the local level.

“For youth to truly contribute to governance, authorities must create real opportunities for participation, and young people must position themselves to be informed, responsible, and united,” he said.

Dr. Wemakor, who is also the Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), stressed that active youth participation strengthens accountability, transparency, and sustainable development, and encouraged the youth to organize themselves to amplify their voices.

Also addressing the gathering, Mr. Matthias Blay, Greater Accra Regional Director of the National Youth Authority (NYA), urged young people to be proactive, responsible and to seek engagement with local government structures.

Mr. Archibald Donkor Jr., Director of Programmes and Operations at NYA, called on participants to form strong groups to effectively access opportunities and actively participate in the Ghana Youth Federation (GYF), recently inaugurated to coordinate youth groups nationwide.

The programme included presentations on Youth Leadership, Active Participation, Responsibility and Accountability, breakout group discussions, plenary presentations, and interactive question-and-answer sessions.

Participants highlighted challenges hindering youth inclusion in governance and proposed practical solutions.