ACCRA, GHANA
Distinguished Friends of the Media, Fellow Youth of Ghana,
As the proverb says, “The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people, but its salvation lies in the hands of its youth.” Today, the Ghana Youth Manifesto Coalition (GYMC) stands in full solidarity with the Youth Platform to declare that the salvation of our democracy depends on the urgent implementation of the 2025 Constitution Review Committee (CRC) Report.
We commend the Constitution Review Committee (CRC) for its report, “Transforming Ghana: From Electoral Democracy to Developmental Democracy.” For the 73% of our population under 35, this is not just a legal document; it is a blueprint for our survival.
We specifically endorse and celebrate the recommendation to reduce the Presidential age from 40 to 30 years. This aligns with regional benchmarks like South Africa and reflects a move toward global best practices of inclusion.
Furthermore, we endorse the capping of Ministers at 57 and the reform of Article 78(1) to decouple the Executive from the Legislature. A reformed judiciary , At this juncture where the ORAL is not ORALYING and the OSP is daily fighting for survival against the political elites that be – the entrenchment of OSP or the Anti-corruption and Ethics commission with a clear independent and prosecutorial powers to fight corruption and corruption related offences cannot be timely enough, it is now. Also Erasing the delegate system of the various political parties internal elections, a reformed electoral commission, the establishment of an independent devolution committee for local governance reform. These measures curb the “winner-takes-all” culture that disenfranchises young, brilliant minds outside the political elite. To fine-tune these reforms, we propose that a mandatory 30% youth quota be institutionalized within all upcoming public service appointment structures.
However, “You cannot shave a man’s head in his absence.” We therefore demand the immediate public release of the full, unedited CRC report to ensure transparency. Most critically, the youth—who constitute 73% of our population—must have direct representation on the Constitution Review Implementation Committee (CRIC). We are not just spectators of history; we are its primary stakeholders.
The time for cosmetic change is over. We demand a constitution that breathes with the energy of the youth.
If this is a journey towards a new Ghana, it must be built by the hands of the youth ourselves.
Signed,
Christopher Wisdom Penu
National Coordinator
GYMC
Write a Reply or Comment
You should or Sign Up account to post comment.