At the Young Commons Forum held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin delivered a stirring call to action, urging Ghana’s youth to rise beyond rhetoric and become the nation’s true agents of change.
Speaking under the theme “Empowering Next Generation for Leadership and Nation-Building,” Afenyo-Markin reminded students that with over 57% of Ghana’s population under the age of 25, young people are not just the future but the heartbeat of the country’s present development.
He stressed that leadership must not be measured by degrees or job titles, but by character, integrity, and service. “A degree or a job title is commendable, but character, integrity and service are what truly build a nation,” he declared.
The Minority Leader challenged the youth to reject corruption, political complacency, and division, while embracing compassion, unity, and accountability. He called on them to hold politicians to their promises, warning against empty pledges that rarely translate into results.
On practical action, Afenyo-Markin urged young people to attend community meetings, use social media responsibly to amplify issues and demand transparency, and engage in grassroots problem-solving. “Do not allow political leaders to make promises without delivering results. Hold us accountable at every turn,” he emphasized.
He further encouraged the youth to look beyond raw resource dependence and instead push for innovation, entrepreneurship, and value addition. By exploring technology, manufacturing, and creative industries, he said, the youth could transform Ghana’s economy into a more resilient one.
Drawing from his own constituency, Effutu, he pointed to the damage of illegal mining (galamsey), lamenting that it has polluted water bodies and made access to potable water increasingly difficult. He described this as a warning sign of governance failures and urged collective responsibility to protect the environment.
Closing his address, Afenyo-Markin told the gathering: “Every time you choose accountability and service over corruption, unity over division, and compassion over cynicism, you are exercising leadership that strengthens our nation’s foundation.”
The event ended with an energised audience of students, who pledged to take up his call to blend courage, responsibility, and innovation in their journey as the next custodians of Ghana’s future.
