International Youth Day celebrated in Ghana
Loading ...A Ghanaian development and human rights NGO,the Centre for Human Development & Social Change,(CHDSCGhana) in association with a number of governmental and non-governmental organisations has successfully coordinated events across the country to commemorate the 2008 International Youth Day in Ghana.
The International Youth Day ( which fell on 12th August this year) is a special day set aside by the United Nations to celebrate global youth contributions and achievements is celebrated globally. It is a great opportunity to rally support and get key actors involved - governments, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, businesses, and young people, to focus on what has been done to further the World Programme of Action for Youth.
On this special occasion, the CHDSCGhana and other organisers held forums, had public discussions and information campaigns in support of young people focusing on youth issues and how they could be addressed. A major focus of the Day in Ghana’s celebration of a global event was a practical action to further encourage the empowerment and participation of youth in the processes and decisions that affect their lives.In Ghana, the general elections and the youth’s participation in political dispensation were also emphasised.
According to Ms. Sabina Youpele, the Executive Director of the CHDSCGhana, the theme for the IYD2008 was Climate Change, Time for Action. She mentioned that the selection of this theme for IYD 2008 was in recognition of the fact that climate change has already begun to devastate communities and deepen the effects of poverty and hunger. This situation complicates the challenges that youth face globally. However, young people are increasingly adding their voices to the call for action on climate change and it is important that in Ghana,the voices of our youth be heard and awareness on environmental issues created. It is in this light that the ChdscGhana spearheaded the collaborative efforts of a number of government’s and non-profit organisations to privately fund and to celebrate the Day in Ghana.
In Mankessim in the Central region,a clean up campaign was organised by the youth of the five suburbs of the community. A forum, sports and cultural music fiesta on climate change were also held at Anaafo Street and at Edumazde School Park. The Mankessim programmes were supported in part by the Ghana chapter of the world famous music service organisation,Percussive Arts Society,the Mankessim Enyan Abaasa Women Association and the International Centre for African Culture & Arts. In a speech, Nana Kofi Akoonu, an ex-assemblyman and a retired educationist called on the youth to keep their environment clean and to stop dabbling in chieftaincy litigations in the community. Nana Ama Aminsah,the queenmother of the town and also the Executive director of the Mankessim Enyan-Abaasa Women’s Association, called on the market women to find alternative means of fuel instead of using firewood made from forest woods. She said our forest resources are being depleted and if care is not taken, we will all get extinguished one day. Mrs. Ernestina Ofori, an executive of the Ghana Percussive Arts Society who was the chairperson for the event,called on the youths to use music and drama to educate the people on the concepts,challenges and the costs of climate change .
Mr. Jonas Maurice Woode, the Presiding member of the Adansi South District Assembly, speaking at a programme at Adansi-Akrofuom, called on the local youths to undertake tree planting exercises to help control global warming. Another speaker, Mr. William Klutse who is the district director of National Commission for Civil Education called on the youths in the community to be careful about following many politicians with diabolic intentions to fan unrests in the community during the electioneering campaigns. He made this appeal during a forum where the people discussed the youth participation in Ghana’s forthcoming democratic elections in December, 2008.
Youths and Students who gathered at a fun-fair entertainment programme at the Presbyterian Secondary and Technical School in Larteh-Akuapem were advised to help keep global warming under control. In a project sponsored by a local affiliate of a US based non-profit, the OBAATANPA International, the school’s local chapter of a special youth programme with an acronym S.P.A.C.E (Sports, Performing Arts and Creative Education were the host. Students and the youth had the opportunity to perform cultural music and dancing, poetry recitals,rap,proverbs and quiz all with a theme on climate change.
At Sefwi Juabuso in the Western region, at the local Catholic Junior Secondary school, a Youth leader, Mr. Gordon Akyeampong led the community youth to organise a tree planting campaign and a discussion on climate change called “WONSUOM”. Ms. Sabina Youpele, the Executive Director of the CHDSCGhana appealled to the government to put incentive in place that will motivate people to undertake tree planting exercises.
The ChdscGhana and other youth related organisations have once again been able to organise programmes that is having a strong impact on the people.
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