By Dennis Peprah, GNA
Nsoatre, (Bono), June 2, GNA-Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, a governance expert has inaugurated the Students Parliament at the Nsoatre Sacred Heart Senior High School (SAHESS) in the Sunyani West Municipality of the Bono Region.
The initiative seeks to empower students to develop leadership, communication and democratic governance skills as well as encourage active participation of decision making at the school and their respective communities.
Master Edmond Kwadwo Osei, the SAHESS Prefect also the Chief Clerk of the Sunyani Adolescent Parliament (SAP) spearheaded the establishment of the Students’ Parliament which also inducted the newly elected parliamentary leaders.
The Sunyani-based Global Media Foundation (GloMeF) and its local partners set up the SAP, a youth-led advocacy and policy under the implementation of its Resilient City for Adolescents (RCA) project to empower young people to engage in local governance, influence policy, and demand accountability from local leaders.
The RCA is a three-year project of consortium partners under the Healthy Cities for Adolescents Initiative being funded by the Fondation Botnar, through the Ecorys United Kingdom, aimed at empowering adolescents and transforming to be active in decision making process and equipping them with leadership skills.
Speaking at a ceremony at Nsoatre, Mr Ahenu, also the Chief Executive Officer of the GloMeF, said the organisation has observed that the future of Africa depended largely on young leaders who were prepared to lead with wisdom, integrity, accountability, and compassion.
He noted that Africa’s present leadership structures under the African Union (AU) had failed to meet the expectations and aspirations of the ordinary African due to persistent corruption, weak institutions, poor governance systems, and inadequate investment in the youth.
Mr Ahenu emphasised that Africa’s transformation could not be achieved without visionary and selfless leadership.
He said that despite her abundant natural and human resources, millions of young people in Africa continue to face unemployment, poverty, poor healthcare systems, inadequate educational opportunities, and limited access to innovation and technology due to ineffective governance and corruption.
“In fact, Africa leaders have failed to prioritize the emerging development needs of their citizens and thereby contributing to growing frustration of the youthful population,” he said.
Mr Ahenu said corruption had weakened public institutions, slowed development, discouraged investment, and widened inequality across many African countries.
“The future of Africa lies in the hands of young people who are willing to lead differently,” Mr. Ahenu stated, adding that, “Africa does not lack resources; what we often lack is honest, visionary, and compassionate leadership that places the welfare of the people above personal interests.”
He advised the students to “see the Students’ Parliament not merely as a ceremonial institution, but a training ground for future national and continental leadership.”
He urged them to cultivate values such as discipline, honesty, tolerance, patriotism, humility, and service to humanity.
Mr Ahenu also called on governments in Africa to invest in youth empowerment, civic education, leadership development, entrepreneurship, and innovation to prepare young people for future leadership responsibilities.
Master Osei later told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he was inspired to facilitate the establishment of the Students’ Parliament to empower the students to uphold democratic values and contribute positively to societal development.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Dennis Peprah
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