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Youth participation in electoral process in Ghana
Boateng, Anthony
The democratic structure and institutions of government of Ghana resumed force on December 7th, 1992, after decades of military rule. For democracy to be considered ideal, it must satisfy certain criteria among which elections are prominent. Though it does not suffice to claim perfection of democracy on the basis of countless successful elections and peaceful transitions, elections are vital in the process of democratization. The youth of Ghana has been sidelined in the process of meaningful and responsible electoral process; their roles have been reduced to the perpetuation of election crimes by politicians of power and influence. Though, the youth have shown interest in politics through forms such as influencing executive decisions through positive agitations, serving as supporting bases for parties and assisting in fundraising, serving as polling agents for their sympathized parties, and performing election functions on behalf of the Electoral Commission, these roles are limited to a few youth who have proven themselves worthy, a chunk of the youth avail themselves to be used as tools in the hands of politicians to perpetuate crime. Their desire to engage in politics and electoral process in a useful way has been barred by a number of factors. 25 politically knowledgeable respondents were selected, interviewed through social media platforms, it was identified that, the youth are not entirely disregarded in the political and election process, nonetheless, their involvement is conditional on the whims of political god-fathers who use the youth in meeting their political ends. Their apathy towards elections is borne from their disappointment in the political leaders. Conscious state policy to motivate the youth to take up meaningful electoral roles and the need to establish a youth political party whose leadership is strictly youth was recommended.
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