In commemoration of the 2023 International Day of Democracy, the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa, FOSDA is calling on Government, Development Partners, Civil Society and Individuals to play a role in ensuring that there is adequate support and an enabling environment for young people (both male and female) to contest in the 2023 District Level Elections.

Young people in Ghana today constitute over 38% of the total population and are therefore major stakeholders in socio-economic development. Yet despite several continental frameworks (African Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment, 2019-2023), regional agreements and national policies (Ghana's Youth Policy 2022-2032) on youth inclusion, young people's participation in decision making processes and governance is yet to be fully achieved as they have been excluded from many aspects of democratic governance.

Having already identified governance and decision making as key development concerns in their 2020 Youth-led Manifesto, the 2023 District Assembly Elections offers a fine opportunity to reignite the passion of the youth in the Democratic practices in Ghana. Considering the dwindling fortunes of Democracy on the continent and particularly Ghana's static status as a Flawed Democracy under the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU's) Democracy Index for 2020 and 2022 it is key to start thinking about youth inclusiveness. As custodians and future care takers of democracy, young people could help to reverse this degenerating trend.

One of the guiding principles of a democracy is inclusion, which enables all facets of society and people to actively participate in the socioeconomic advancement of the nation.  In Ghana's situation, facelift is necessary for youth involvement in Democratic governance. This will contribute to accelerate the attainment of the developmental targets of the National Youth Policy.

The theme for this years' day is, Empowering the next generation. The day focuses on young people's essential role in advancing democracy and ensuring that their voices are included in the decisions that have a profound impact on their world.

For Ghana, the Upcoming 2023 District Assembly Elections is crucial. It is the opportunity we have to support young people in diverse way to actively participate in this process. The youth can be supported in a number of ways including but not limited to

• Supporting the youth interested in contesting for positions as Assembly or Unit Committee Member to understudy the electorate and development issues in the districts so as to design appropriate and targeted campaign messages.
• Mentor youth in public speaking skills to improve their influencing skills
• Provide youth with finance and or logistics to bring their ideas to reality on the day of elections.

We believe that our call for young people to be supported to partake in the 2023 District Assembly Elections is timely. This will serve as learning grounds to imbibe democratic principles as well as build the necessary confidence to take up more demanding and engaging tasks at the sub-national and national levels.

We also take this opportunity to call youth who have attained the right age of voting to actively take part in the on-going voter registration exercise and get registered.

Theodora W. Anti

Executive Director

Contact No. 0205336268

Email: Theodora@fosda.org