Let’s not allow ourselves to be dragged into generational conflicts – Zanetor 

By Eunice Hilda A. Mensah 

Gomoa Fetteh (C/R), Sept.17, GNA – Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the Member of Parliament for the Korle Klottey Constituency, has advised the youth not to allow themselves to be used for or dragged into generational conflicts, especially in the name of politics. 

“You are in Ghana today and I can assure you, you have no idea what it means to be in a country where there is war. Let us not take it for granted. Do not allow people making reckless statements to lead you into disrupting a potential future that you have. 

“The peace that we enjoy here is what is allowing us to sit in this room today without worrying about whether anybody is going to come in here and kill us. We’re sitting in here today from different ethnic groups, different regions, sitting here in harmony. That is the Ghana we envision. And don’t let anybody take that away from you; not a politician, not a traditional leader, not a religious leader, not an academician,” she added. 

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings gave the advice at a two-day National Youth Conference by the National Youth Authority and Plan International Ghana in Gomoa Fetteh, Central Region. 

The conference on the theme: “Igniting Potential; Inspiring Change” brought together hundreds of youth from across the 16 regions including senior high schools to be empowered and engaged for their contributions towards youth development. 

The MP said the country could only develop if her citizens recognized that in their diversity, was strength, adding: “Let’s remember that and make sure that we continue to be the shining black star of this continent that other countries will learn from.” 

The growing population of the nation, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said was not a threat, but an opportunity for nation building, resetting and transformation.  

Speaking on entrepreneurship, she said a government’s duty was to create a favourable environment for businesses to thrive.  

“Because the reality is, not everybody is an entrepreneur, not everyone knows how to run a business. But if you create an environment that is enabling, an environment that recognises that when you are giving out a loan to a young person, you cannot use the same terms as you would if you were giving a loan to someone who has been in a job for 20 years, then businesses can thrive,” she said. 

The MP advised: “When you start making profit, don’t go spending the money on something else. When you reinvest in the business, it grows. And when it’s stable enough, that’s when you can, in a very, very prudent way, spend some of your profits on other things.” 

Mr Felix Gyamfi, Director-General of the National Service Authority, said the reality of life was that one was a youth today and in a few decades could be caught up in life. 

“So, it’s time to ignite potential and carve a niche. Our youth, bear in mind that you shouldn’t necessarily become a scholar to make it in life. Don’t sit under trees and wait for life to run to embrace you, it doesn’t work that way,” he said. 

Ms Serwaa Amihere, a Broadcast Journalist, speaking on hindrances to women sharing opinions and taking leadership positions, said many women were afraid of stigma that would come from speaking to controversial issues. 

“Sometimes when women share opinions on platforms with men, the attention shifts from what they said to how they looked. The fear of stereotypes, backlash and others could discourage many young women from taking up leadership positions,” she said. 

She encouraged women occupying positions to hold the hands of young people coming up, and mentor them while providing available opportunities for them to make a difference. 

Ms Rebecca Ahadzi, the Coordinator of the Affirmative Action Law Coalition, told the participants that they could not ask for right if they knew nothing about the law.  

“Please develop a zeal for knowledge, read and learn. Remember that life won’t give you what you deserve but what you demand,” she added. 

Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, the Member of Parliament for the Bosome Freho Constituency, said governmental policies affected the youth the most, meanwhile their inputs could not be quantified. 

He asked them to enrich themselves so as not to betray the trust of leaders that gave them opportunity in future. 

GNA 

Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba