By Solomon Gumah, GNA
Tamale, March 03, GNA – Mr Ibrahim Mahama, Founder and Artistic Director of Red Clay Studio has urged young people to actively contribute to national development by embracing their civic responsibilities at all levels.
He said active citizenship required individuals to recognise their role in society and contribute meaningfully towards solving social and national challenges.
Mr Mahama made the call in Tamale during the 2026 edition of the Akoto Ampaw Active Citizenship Dialogue organised by STAR Ghana Foundation in collaboration with other partners including YEFL-Ghana.
The dialogue, held on the theme: “Beyond Partisanship: Youth, Active Citizenship, and Ghana’s Democratic Future”, brought together students, civil society organisations, and development stakeholders to deliberate on strengthening civic engagement among the youth.
Mr Mahama noted that although many young people were eager to contribute to national development, the absence of enabling policies sometimes discouraged them from participating fully in civic processes.
He urged the youth to draw inspiration from Ghana’s history of civic resistance and sacrifice by earlier generations.
He cited historical figures such as Yaa Asantewaa, who led the War of the Golden Stool, and nationalist leader Kwame Nkrumah, whose efforts contributed significantly to Ghana’s independence.
He said, “These sacrifices remind us that as citizens, we are part of a long historical process, and we must also contribute meaningfully during our time.”
Mr Mahama emphasised the need for courage and resilience among young people and encouraged them to develop a strong sense of responsibility and commitment to nation-building despite prevailing challenges.
He also supported proposals to recognise national heroes by naming institutions, policies and initiatives after them to preserve their legacies and inspire future generations.
Alhaji Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu, Executive Director of the STAR Ghana Foundation said the dialogue series was instituted to create a national platform for reflection and discussion on active citizenship.
He explained that the annual dialogue was renamed in honour of the late democracy advocate Mr Akoto Ampaw in recognition of his immense contributions to civic activism and democratic reforms in Ghana.
Alhaji Amidu noted that Mr Ampaw, a founding member of the Foundation, was widely known for his commitment to civic activism from his student days through various advocacy campaigns for democratic reforms.
He cited the late lawyer’s role in the advocacy that led to the passage of key governance legislations including the Right to Information Act and the Domestic Violence Act. Please
He explained that although the context of civic activism had evolved, young people must continue to play a central role in shaping the country’s democratic future.
He said, “Our generation fought for access to education and democracy, but every generation must discover its own mission.”
Professor Iliasu Mumuni, Vice Dean, Department of Media and Communication Studies, University for Development Studies, during a roundtable discussion, emphasised that active citizenship must begin at the household and community levels and encouraged citizens to identify problems within their immediate environment and take proactive steps to address them.
He said, “Active citizenship must be reflected in all spheres of life beginning from the home and extending to the immediate community.”
The 2026 dialogue adopted a decentralised and multi-zonal approach to broaden participation and capture diverse perspectives across the country, especially among the youth from the five regions in the north.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/George-Ramsey Benamba