Charles Abugre, Executive Director of International Development Economics Associates, has urged Ghanaian youth to follow the example of their Kenyan counterparts and demonstrate against the country’s economic hardships.
Charles Abugre lamented the country’s leadership, encouraging the youth to harness their creativity and energy to develop new forms of activism, ensuring their voices are heard loud and clear when it matters most.
“They have been shown the way by the Kenyan youth. They have protested against taxation as bad as Ghana’s, they went onto the street alone and are still fighting”.
“They have occupied parliament, and they have been consistent. The Ghanaian youth are also capable, only if they act as citizens, not idiots, and if they collectively recognize that unless the country as a whole progresses, no single individual or clan’s progression can be sustainable. Can we also have a youth uprising?”
Charles Abugre
Furthermore, United Nations Resident Coordinator Charles Abani wondered aloud whether Ghana has fully harnessed the benefits of democracy, particularly in terms of tangible gains for its youthful population, given the present happenings in Kenya.
Mr. Abani contended that Ghana’s development has, at best, plateaued, with the NDC and NPP alternating in power every 8 years, merely swapping the reins of governance without driving meaningful progress.
Alhaji Amidu Ibrahim-Tanko, Executive Director of Star Ghana Foundation, also bemoaned the challenges faced by civil society organizations (CSOs) in finding a platform to hold policymakers accountable and speak truth to power without fear of retribution.
Alhaji Ibrahim-Tanko noted that like their Kenyan Counterparts, Ghanaian politicians often dismiss civil society critiques by taunting that they have no constituency, implying that their voices are insignificant since they aren’t directly accountable to voters.
“How do we respond collectively to not just the problems but also the opportunities that are arising from what is happening within a space? We have been very good at addressing external issues that affect the civil peace and our organization, the clinging, funding, [and] restrictive policies, and these are necessary to discuss, but we haven’t spent enough time shining the light on ourselves”.
Alhaji Amidu Ibrahim-Tanko
Calls For Accountability And Inclusivity Intensify
Moreover, Alhaji Amidu Ibrahim-Tanko acknowledged that the civil society’s concerns about Ghana’s issues are not unfounded and that these worries are rooted in legitimate concerns that need to be addressed.
He observed that many Ghanaians have neglected to focus on a crucial aspect of governance: ensuring accountability to the citizens and constituents who elected them to office, rather than just serving personal or party interests.
He wondered how citizens can amplify the country’s impact and safeguard the civic space that enables civil society organizations, including interest groups, to thrive and hold leaders accountable.
“What are we doing well, what are we not doing well, how do we strategize to become more inclusive, how do we strategize to become more effective, how do we strategize to become more credible and legitimate? These days, whenever we make any point that the politicians don’t like, they ask, where is your constituency? And who do you represent?”
Alhaji Amidu Ibrahim-Tanko
He encouraged civil society organizations (CSOs) to acknowledge the tactics often used to silence them and proactively work towards preventing these forms of suppression, thereby safeguarding their ability to hold those in power accountable.
These remarks come on the heels of widespread protests by Kenyan youth against the government’s decision to hike taxes, a move that has sparked widespread outrage and frustration among the youth population.
The East African nation, is currently grappling with widespread unrest as frustrated youth take to the streets to protest the government’s introduction of a controversial new tax, similar to Ghana’s E-levy, which has sparked intense public backlash.
On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, the protests escalated as demonstrators stormed the legislative building, forcing lawmakers to seek shelter and leaving many stranded amidst the chaos.
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