Curious Minds Climaxes Youth for Governance Project with Call for Youth Inclusion in Leadership

The Children and Youth in Broadcasting (CYIB) – Curious Minds, has rounded off its Youth for Governance Project in Wa with a colloquium centered on the theme: “Addressing Social Challenges to Promote Youth Participation in Governance.”

Held in Wa, Upper West Region, on April 15, 2025, the event brought together young people, community leaders, and key stakeholders to reflect on youth empowerment and governance inclusion.

Speaking at the event, Upper West Regional Coordinator of Curious Minds, Philip Tengzu, said the year-long project sought to create space for youth and marginalized groups to meaningfully participate in governance and decision-making processes. He explained that the project, funded by William and Flora Hewlett Foundation through STAR-Ghana Foundation, was implemented in Kperisi in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region and Jisonayili in the Tamale Metropolis of the Northern Region. Mr. Tengzu noted that through radio discussions and community engagements, the project empowered youth volunteers to advocate for inclusivity and assume leadership roles in their communities. “We hope their activism will not end with this project,” he stated, urging the young participants to sustain their advocacy beyond the project period. He also highlighted the project’s deliberate inclusion of minority communities such as the Fulbe youth and persons with disabilities (PWDs), stressing that “development must not leave anyone behind.”

The Assembly Member for Kperisi, Hon. Yahaya Abdul Walliu, commended Curious Minds and STAR-Ghana for choosing his electoral area out of many in the municipality. He said the initiative had helped uncover hidden talents among youth and gave them the platform to contribute meaningfully to community development. “Our youth have ideas, but they are often denied the opportunity to express themselves,” he noted.

Representing the Upper West Regional Youth Parliament, Minority Leader Amos Kubdaar decried the persistent social challenges facing the youth, particularly unemployment and drug abuse. He said the lack of jobs is pushing many young people into social vices such as substance abuse and teenage pregnancies, especially in rural areas. “Unemployment is not because we are not capable, it’s because opportunities are simply not available,” he emphasized.

Mr. Kubdaar further called on leaders to trust young people with leadership roles and help them build the experience they need to shape the country’s future. He also called for more support for girl-child development, noting that economic vulnerability often leads to early pregnancies.

The Wa Municipal Director of the National Youth Authority, Mr. Felix Wurah, addressed the systemic barriers that prevent youth from participating in critical decision-making processes. He encouraged young people to explore digital platforms like social media to mobilize, petition and hold leaders accountable. “Representation is key,” he said, adding that youth can no longer be ignored in national conversations as he emphasized that youth form the greater demographic of the nation’s population.

Executive Director of Youth Placement and Employability Solutions (Y-PES), Mr. Suleymana Mumuni, emphasized the importance of volunteerism in building youth leadership and civic responsibility. He urged young people to view service not just as an obligation but as an opportunity to grow, contribute and build trust.

On his part, Mr. Jimba Mohammed Ibrahim representing the Upper West Regional Minister, Lawyer Charles Lwanga Puozuing and the Regional Coordinating Council, stressed government’s commitment to implementing policies that stimulate meaningful youth engagement in decision-making processes at local and national levels.  “Governance is not the preserve of the elderly or the elite, it’s a shared responsibility and [young people] have every right and indeed, the obligation to claim your space in it,” he said.

Chairing the occasion, the chief of Kperisi, Naa Hamidu Seidu Bomison, applauded Curious Minds for locating the project in his traditional area. He advised young people to be courageous and respectful, noting that leadership requires sacrifice, dedication and humility. He further encouraged elders and public servants to create space for youth to learn, grow and take on leadership.

The colloquium, which marked the climax of the Youth for Governance project, concluded with strong appeals for stakeholders to continue supporting youth inclusion in governance at all levels.