By Tilda Acorlor
Student Leaders in the Ho Municipality have gone through intensive training in youth leadership and advocacy, aimed at strengthening their participation in youth-friendly urban development initiatives within the municipality.
The training dubbed “Youth Leadership and Advocacy Training” (YLAT) brought together learners from Kabore JHS, OLA SHS, Mawuko Girls’ SHS, Ho Technical University Basic School, and Kekeli International School.
Speakers at the YLAT addressed participants on youth empowerment, civic responsibility, and local governance.
Co-Founder and Lead Convener of Fix The Country Movement, Osagyefo Oliver Barker-Vormawor who was the guest speaker shared with participants the importance of youth advocacy, discussing how real change actually happens.
He said understanding people’s roles and engaging the right people is important for any kind of advocacy to succeed.
“Different stakeholders play different roles. Your ability to understand or map people depends on understanding the roles they play, and that determines how you engage them.” he said.
“It’s a reminder that meaningful change isn’t just about taking action; it’s about engaging the right people in the right way”, he added.
“This is the country that is waiting for you, so help us all and turn it around,” he told them.
He structured the nature of advocacy from identifying the problem, designing solutions, securing adoption, and implementing, to evaluating the outcomes.
Mr. Barker-Vormawor bemoaned the gap in political involvement among young people, noting that while 72% of the general population votes, participation in political parties drops sharply among young people to 27%.
He encouraged young people to engage beyond voting for meaningful change through sustained involvement.
Other speakers included Madam Rose Akubia from Ho Technical University, who described the training as timely for prefects and young leaders and Mr. Charles Gomenu, Municipal Director of the National Youth Authority, who explained the structure and functions of the Ho Municipal Assembly.
He pointed out entry points for young people to influence local decision-making.
Mr. Charles Gomenu explained that 70% of Assembly members are elected, while 30% are appointed to represent various sectors, including transport, trades, and professional groups.
PRO of the Ho Municipal Ghana Education Service (GES), Elvis Kofi Bomasah, speaking on behalf of the Municipal Directorate, praised the initiative for nurturing young people in leadership beyond academic environments.
He reaffirmed the GES’s commitment to youth development programs that encourage responsibility and civic engagement.
Executive Director of Node Eight, Brian Dzansi, presented an overview of the Young and Safe program, explaining the project’s aims and objectives.
He advised learners not to give up. “change takes a lot of time, so you should not give up.”
Executive Director of Verado Foundation & WAID Ghana, Vera Abena Addo and a renowned women’s rights advocate encouraged participants to be disciplined and patient because it is one of the requisites for meaningful advocacy.
She walked students through essential advocacy tools strategic communication, media engagement, legal and policy processes, and community mobilization explaining how each contributes to influence society.
The CEO of LoveAid Foundation, Princess Lovia Tetteh encouraged participants to be committed and see themselves as active contributors in the municipality.
Students who participated in the event expressed their newfound confidence, The school prefect of Kabore JHS, Emmanuel Dzanma, said the experience will help him support his peers with greater confidence, adding that he has already begun engaging students in his school.
“We have shy adolescents and some who are talented but can’t use their talent. I’m going to build a team to empower most adolescents,” he said.
Gloria Nuworsu of Ho Technical University Basic School reiterated Dzanma’s comments, saying the sessions broadened her understanding of governance and civic participation.
“The part that got me was the public policy processes and advocacy how you find a problem, work toward solving it, and find solutions,” she said, citing the water problem in their community as an example of an issue she would like to address.
