The Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has called for an end to the “You do me, I do you” vicious cycle of political persecution in the country.
He said instead of launching straight into their manifestos to better the lives of the people, political parties tend to focus on undoing each other to the neglect of those who voted them into power.
“Sometimes, we think that bringing down our opponents will make us popular. It rather pushes the country back,” he added.
Forum
Mr Afenyo-Markin made the call at the launch of the Young Common Forum (YCF) at the University of Education, Winneba, last Friday.
The YCF seeks to serve as a bridge between knowledge and practice, as well as build the next batch of future leaders while preparing them for the job market.
Division
He challenged the youth to resist division and corruption tendencies associated with governance.
“When you choose unity over division, you strengthen the social fabric that holds our nation together. I urge you to reject corruption and resist division whenever you encounter them.
“When you speak out against nepotism and injustice, you send a clear message that your generation would not tolerate practices that hold Ghana back,” he said.
Transparency
Mr Afenyo-Markin, who is also the MP for Effutu in the Central Region, told the students that as part of shaping the new order, they must be transparent and deal honestly with their clients.
That way, he said, accountability would become a shared value, saying: “I urge you to lead with integrity and serve with passion.”
“Youth empowerment cannot stop at the lecture hall. It must be backed by deliberate action that opens doors to move barriers,” he added.
Mr Afenyo-Markin called for opportunities to develop communication and collaborative skills, expose the youth to diverse perspectives and practical experiences in governance, and encourage civic participation.
The future, he said, was in innovation, technology, digital creativity, manufacturing and value addition.
He called for a collaboration between government and the private sector to work hand-in-hand to foster an environment where ideas could flourish.
“This means investing in research and developing and putting in place access to capital for young entrepreneurs and celebrating innovation rather than stifling it,” he said.
The Effutu MP urged the youth to demand accountability from leaders and learn to be accountable themselves.
Chair
The chairman for the occasion and a lecturer at UEW, Eric Nketia, said leadership did not emerge out of the blue but through mentorship and training.
He, therefore, called on leaders to select youths in their communities to mentor them to take up the mantle of leadership.
