YEWGlobal Projects Present: Empowering the Youth in the Political Process: From Elections to Civic Engagement

YEWGlobal Projects Presents: Empowering the Youth in the Political Process: From Elections to Civic Engagement

General elections will be held in Ghana on 7 December 2024 to elect the president and members of Parliament. YEWGlobal, an organisation that empowers the youth, has taken it upon itself to create an environment where young people can constructively share opinions, perspectives, and knowledge on the upcoming elections as many Ghanaian youths are first-time voters. During elections, young people or first-time voters are usually targeted by political actors due to their vulnerability and exclusion in economic, social, and political decisions. 

In 2020, Ghana's youth voter population according to the Electoral Commission, consisted of 55.1% of the total voter population; an indication of the need to build their capacity to engage and participate in democratic processes effectively. The ages of first-time voters range from 18-21 years. These young individuals may be misinformed, inexperienced or new to the political arena hence the importance of informing them on the processes of elections. 

For political systems to be representative, all parts of society must be included. When young people are disenfranchised or disengaged from political processes, a significant portion of the population has little or no voice or influence in decisions that affect group members’ lives. A key consequence is the undermining of political systems’ representativeness. To make a difference in the longer term, young people must be engaged in formal political processes and have a say in formulating today’s and tomorrow’s politics. Inclusive political participation is not only a fundamental political and democratic right but also is crucial to building stable and peaceful societies and developing policies that respond to the specific needs of younger generations.

For young people to be adequately represented in political institutions, processes, and decision-making, and in particular in elections, they must know their rights and be given the necessary knowledge and capacity to participate in a meaningful way at all levels.