Promoting Youth Participation in Decentralisation and Local Governance Processes in Ghana

Citizen’s participation in governance is essential for enhancing public confidence in governing institutions, formulating and implementing policies that reflect the citizen needs. The youth who constitute about 60% of the national population and 58% of registered voters according to the 2012 national election have an important role to play toward these processes at local and national levels.

What is the aim of the project?

Promote the use of a rights-based participatory approach to mobilize and empower youth in the country to engage and build consensus on governance issues using youth friendly and innovative new media platforms. The initiative directly targets youth from all over the country to use the platform to discuss issues of governance and development at the district level in a non-partisan manner. For this pilot phase, YBF will directly support youth from the following four District Assemblies to engage local authorities:

• Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Area in the Western region
• Gomoa West District in the Central Region
• Accra Metropolitan Area in the Greater Accra region, and
• Asuogyaman District in the Eastern region.

The initiative also seeks to create awareness and sensitize the youth on government policies such as:
• District development planning process
• District Budgeting process

What can I do here?

On this platform you can make proposals to your District Assembly, discuss issues of governance and development in your community, comment on proposals from other users, and vote on the proposals made. Any registered member can be the initiator of a proposal for discussion or contribute in shaping proposals made by other users through constructive comments on the platform. YBF will collate and submit proposals to respective local authorities for consideration in district development planning and budget preparation processes and share feedback from Assemblies or relevant authorities on the platform.

From when to when can I put forward my Proposal/suggestions?

Proposals, comments or suggestions can be made at anytime by a registered member of the platform. Proposals can be put on from October to December 2014.

Whom can I ask when I have questions?

The platform has a webmaster who will be responsible for all issues and queries from members on the platform.