The Young African Leaders Initiative Network [YALI] has held a debate in Accra for five political parties ahead of the December 7 general elections.
Sponsored by 3FM, it was aimed at affording the YALI participants and the entire Ghanaian youth the opportunity to demand from the political parties, their policy agenda for youth development if voted into power.
The YALI programme offers innovative and game changing leadership training in Africa to foster sustained economic growth, promote food security, increase resilience to climate change, and improve the capacity of countries and communities to address HIV and AIDS, malaria and other health threats.
An initiative of the US President Barrack Obama, it is a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders through training and developing young African leaders from West Africa.
Representatives of the five political parties – the National Democratic Congress, New Patriotic Party, People’s National Convention, Convention People’s Party and the Progressive People’s Party- took turns to address the participants what to expect from their respective governments should their party come to power.
Each of the five representatives made a strong case as to why their party should be given the nod in the election, with health and education featuring prominently on their agenda for building nation.
Godwin Tamakloe representing the NDC argued that they have evidence of new infrastructural facilities in the health sector and improved on the existing ones in the system. He also touched on the government’s commitment to ensuring global security for its citizens.
Sammy Awuku of the NPP said the next NPP administration will prioritise agriculture, noting a lot of Ghanaian youth are ready and willing to go into entrepreneurship which they will also encourage.
Divine Nkrumah of the PPP stated that a PPP government will make available the needed loans and financial support farmers.
Atik Mohammed of the PNC said they have realised the challenges in the agric sector and will invest heavily in it.
James Kwabena Bompeh of the CPP stressed on motivating the youth for them to engage in agriculture. He also stated they will use the state purchasing power to their advantage to support the agricultural sector.
Nana Afrane Asante|3news.com|Ghana