Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called on Ghana’s youth to actively participate in the upcoming December elections, emphasizing their crucial role in driving the nation’s development and progress.
Speaking at the launch of the Kufuor Scholars Foundation’s voter campaign, which aims to boost youth involvement in the electoral process, Kufuor stressed the importance of the youth in shaping the country’s future.
He encouraged young Ghanaians to see themselves as pivotal in choosing the nation’s leaders.
“Ghana alone has about 30 million citizens and with your learning and mature brain power throughout our societies, if you would do what you should do as responsible citizens to try to give the nation good leadership, inclusive leadership, if you would do that, then I tell you, within a few years you will see Ghana turning around to really be coming up, to be emulated on the continent of Africa to better the lot of humanity,” Kufuor said.
In the 2020 elections, although over 17 million Ghanaians registered to vote, only 13 million cast their ballots, indicating significant voter apathy. The upcoming December 7 election faces similar challenges, with a survey by the Kufuor Scholars Foundation revealing that 43 percent of 1,000 Ghanaians plan not to vote.
Addressing this issue, the Kufuor Scholars Programme, in partnership with the National Commission for Civic Education, has launched a campaign to enhance voter education and awareness. Kufuor emphasized the potential impact of the youth, stating, “having over 70% of the youth population means that, you will be unstoppable if you become committed to doing what is right.”
The launch event saw attendance from notable figures including Prof. Agyemang Baffuor Duah, CEO of the JAK Foundation; H.E. Harriet Thompson, British High Commissioner to Ghana; Dr. Pascal Brenya, KSP Coordinator; Nana Ama Oppong Duah, Policy Advisor at the JAK Foundation; and Irene Horsham (Esq), Rector of Mountcrest University.
