The Youth Bridge Research Institute (YBRI), a youth development organisation dedicated to the advancement of an equitable and inclusive society as well as identifying gaps and opportunities to strengthen youth development through practice and policy has reiterated a call on government and political parties to encourage youth representation and participation in government.
A statement issued by the Foundation on the eve of the upcoming National Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary primaries, petitioned the government and political parties to do this by “creating the space and encouraging young people to contest the upcoming Parliamentary Primaries by removing all visible and invisible obstacles that could frustrate the youth.”
“We explain the indubitable importance of getting many qualified young people elected to parliament. We call on political parties to create the space and encourage young people to contest the upcoming NPP Parliamentary Primaries by removing all visible and invisible obstacles that could frustrate the youth and put in place mentorship interventions that allow experience party leaders and past parliamentarians to mentor and build the confidence of the young parliamentary hopefuls,” the statement said.
It also asked the leaders to take away any key obstacles to youth participation in parliamentary primaries of political parties including high cost of filing fees; high cost of campaigning; and asked the youth to bid their time.
Click here for the full statement:
