By Seraphine Nyuiemedi
The Youth Impact Parliament (YIP) is a youth-centric organisation that mimics the Parliament of Ghana. It was founded in 2021 to train young people in democratic governance, leadership and legislative processes, and equips members with debating, public speaking and policymaking skills.
The Youth Impact Parliament (YIP) has marked its fifth anniversary with strong calls for youth empowerment, leadership development and national cooperation from key stakeholders. The celebration, held in Ho in the Volta Region under the theme “YIP at 5: Building Leaders, Building Legacy,” brought together government officials, Members of Parliament and development experts, who praised the initiative as a strong platform for training future leaders.
The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, said the Youth Impact Parliament has become one of the key platforms for youth leadership development in the Volta Region. He assured the group of continued support from the Regional Coordinating Council and urged members to work with dedication. He said their ideas should help shape government policies and programmes.
“This Impact Parliament has become one of the biggest incubators for youth leadership, not only for today but for the future of this region,” he said.
Mr Gunu also encouraged the youth to support environmental cleanliness efforts, noting that the Volta Region is recognised as one of the cleanest in the country. He further highlighted the Volta Youth Development Fund as a major initiative to support young entrepreneurs and called for sustained youth participation in agriculture and development programmes.
“The Volta Region is being acclaimed as the cleanest region in Ghana, and I want this Youth Parliament to take a keen interest in environmental cleanliness and also liaise with the municipal and district assemblies so that we can keep the environment clean and more sustainable,” he said.
The Member of Parliament for Ho West, Kwasi Bedzrah, praised the Youth Impact Parliament for its consistency and discipline. Speaking on behalf of the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, Mr Bedzrah said the group has demonstrated strong commitment, having held over 66 sittings, some lasting more than six hours. He described this as a clear sign of readiness for leadership and urged members to strengthen their research work and engage their Members of Parliament with policy ideas and statements. He also encouraged them to learn parliamentary procedures and debate skills to prepare for future responsibilities.
Mr Bedzrah announced that two members of the Youth Impact Parliament will be sponsored to participate in the Commonwealth Youth Parliament in July, with a possible additional observer slot. He also commended plans by the group to build an auditorium and office complex, describing it as a bold step.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute, Sodzi Sodzi-Tetey, described the Youth Impact Parliament as a pioneering bicameral youth legislature with growing national and international recognition.
He said young people form a large part of Ghana’s population and must be included in decision-making. He noted that the government is rolling out youth-focused initiatives such as the national apprenticeship programme and the one million coders programme, which young people must take an interest in and take advantage of.
Dr Sodzi-Tetey urged young people to change their mindset, build their capacity through training and scholarships such as the Chevening Scholarship, Mandela Washington Fellowship and Mastercard Foundation, and actively participate in leadership at all levels.
He also encouraged the group to formalise partnerships with institutions such as the Parliament of Ghana, the ECOWAS Parliament, the African Union and the United Nations to expand their impact.
“Formalise your relationship with the African Union and the United Nations, because you will see that it will give you opportunities to establish your international credentials,” he said.
Dr Sodzi-Tetey made a donation to support the Youth Impact Parliament and encouraged members to continue building a strong legacy for the future.
The Youth Impact Parliament platform now represents all 276 constituencies across Ghana and continues to serve as a training ground for future leaders through debates, committee work and capacity-building activities. The pilot parliament has evolved into a structured institution with a bicameral system made up of a Senate and a Lower House.
It also extends its youth development agenda to schools through the YIP Campus Club for junior high and senior high schools, aimed at nurturing civic responsibility and leadership among students as a foundation for future participation in the Youth Parliament.
The programme is also extending its reach internationally, with chapters established in countries including Uganda, India, Namibia, Kenya and South Africa.
