Ms Brigitte Dzogbenuku, Executive Director of Mentoring Women Ghana, has urged Ghanaian youth, especially students, to take an active role in shaping public policy and reinforcing democratic values, emphasising the critical role young people play in the nation’s democratic progress.
Speaking at the Ashesi Citi Dialogue on Thursday, November 14, on the theme “Scholarship, Leadership, Citizenship, and Nation Building,” Ms Dzogbenuku encouraged students to harness their unique position and resources to influence meaningful change.
She pointed out that today’s youth have access to opportunities and platforms that previous generations lacked, empowering them to contribute significantly to Ghana’s development.
Ms. Dzogbenuku, who was the Progressive People’s Party’s presidential candidate in the 2020 election, highlighted the powerful impact of youth engagement in politics and policy-making within a democratic society, urging young Ghanaians to leverage their influence in advancing the nation.
“Scholarship is very important, particularly the constituency of people in scholarship. Students these days are really privileged. They have privilege and great opportunities because those of us who have foraged into politics grew up at a time when we didn’t even have the option of a democracy.”
The former presidential candidate drew on her own experiences growing up in an era without democratic freedoms. She recounted the challenges faced by her generation, which lived through periods of political unrest and authoritarian rule.
“Most people forget that when the revolution happened, I was 10 years old and I grew up throughout my secondary school, not in a democracy. The first time I voted in 1992, I was in my second year in the university and so we have not had that opportunity in our time as scholars to influence governance and democracy in this country.”
In her concluding remarks, Ms Dzogbenuku reiterated the value of youth engagement in democracy, urging students to not only observe but actively participate in shaping public policy.
She encouraged them to work toward a Ghana that upholds democratic values and prioritises the common good.
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