Examining Youth Participation in Local Governance: The Case of Selected Districts in Ghana

Abstract

The participation of Ghana’s youth in its democratic governance in recent times cannot be overemphasised. The youth have non-restrictive opportunities to be elected, exercise their franchise and subsequently involve in local and national development activities. The Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have a stake in the development, implementation and coordination of local and national policies that inure to youth activities and development. The study examines youth participation in governance among three districts in Ghana adopting a mixed research method by combining qualitative and quantitative methods. It used survey questionnaires, focus group discussion and interview for its primary data collection. The research was conducted in three assemblies namely Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly, Awutu Senya District Assembly and Ashaiman Municipal Assembly. In all, 220 persons were targeted as respondents for the quantitative data and 24 for the qualitative data. A total of 220 questionnaires were administered out of which 140 were completed and returned by respondents while the qualitative interviews were administered to all the 24 respondents. On development activities, 70 percent of the respondents do not know of any development activities for the youth in the districts. None of the three MMDAs has a tailor-made local policy and programmes on youth development. Consequently, the youth is challenged in relating with the assembly and do not contribute to the decision making and execution of local development plans. There is no specific unit or sub-committee in any of the districts that has the responsibility of overseeing youth development. District Assemblies should develop district specific youth policies or localize national youth policies in order to meet the orientation, aspiration, culture and the world view of the youth in their localities.