The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Gender, Children and Social Protection and Member of Parliament for Krachi West, Helen Ntosu, has called for stronger platforms to engage young people in national decision-making and help them realise their full potential.
She said governance systems can no longer rely solely on government-driven policy processes, stressing that citizens—especially young people—now expect to actively participate in shaping policies that affect them.
She made the remarks at the launch of the maiden Mini Parliament initiative organised by the Parliament of Ghana in collaboration with the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), UNICEF, and the Learning Tree Foundation at Parliament House in Accra.
UNICEF representative Paulina Sarvilahati emphasized the importance of ensuring that children’s voices are heard in development processes, noting that Ghana was the first country to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guarantees children’s right to participate in decisions affecting them.
Parliament’s Public Affairs Division official Kate Addo praised the enthusiasm of participating children, saying the initiative demonstrates their capacity to contribute meaningfully to national discourse when given the opportunity.
She added that the Mini Parliament programme is designed to give children hands-on experience of parliamentary procedures by allowing them to act as Members of Parliament and debate issues affecting young people.
The Director of Public Engagement at Parliament, Effia Tenge, said the initiative builds on efforts that saw over 44,000 visitors engage with Parliament between 2023 and 2025, most of whom were schoolchildren.
She noted that many young visitors struggle to fully understand parliamentary processes, making the Mini Parliament a more interactive way to improve civic education.
The Executive Director of ACEPA, Rasheed Draman, commended the initiative, stating that early exposure to governance helps build responsible future citizens.
During the inaugural session, participants debated the topic “Responsible Use of Technology by Children,” focusing on online safety, cyberbullying, and digital responsibility, with support from the Cyber Security Authority.
A traditional leader, Manye Naa Badu Diaba I, also encouraged the children to uphold discipline and good moral values as they prepare for future leadership roles.
Source: 3news
