2008 National Youth Summit Launched

THE 2008 National Young Leaders Summit has been launched with a call on leaders of public and private institutions to help nurture and groom young leaders to assume leadership positions in the country’s development agenda.
The Summit was instituted two years ago by Waves International, a youth oriented non-profit organisation, with a vision to bring young leaders across the nation together, to be inspired and motivated by prominent leaders in Ghana and across the continent.
The Chief Executive of Waves International, Mr Ernest Davids, said the summit was purposely being organised for emerging young leaders in Ghana and across the continent to help them gain practical experience from prominent leaders through effective mentoring.
He said ever since the inception of the summit, young leaders have greatly benefited from the summit, which has helped sharpen their leadership abilities, as most of them have made a lot of impact in their various fields of leadership.
Mr Davids noted that this year’s theme for the summit, “Nurturing Leaders Through Succession Leadership”, was appropriate because, “it is high time the existing leaders in the country come together to nurture and groom young leaders to assume leadership position because the country’s future depends on them and how well they are mentored”.
He explained that most Western countries had such mentoring programmes to instil in their youth leadership qualities, a practice that was lacking in Ghana.
He expressed the hope that if the country would be able to achieve the Millennium Development Goals then the current crop of leaders should consider mentoring as a key element in the country’s development agenda.
The launching was attended by students leaders from some of the country’s tertiary institutions, and they all acknowledged the relevance of mentoring in improving the knowledge, skill and leadership abilities of young leaders to enhance the country’s socio-economic development.
The President of the University Student Association of Ghana (USAG), Mr Maxwell Ofosu Boakye said students in particular learnt a lot from the summit but believed that their commitment and enthusiasm to serve their fellow students, was paramount.
“I believe that when the youth are given leadership positions, they learn a lot from the experience and exposure, and will advice the youth and other young people in leadership positions to take advantage of this summit to improve upon their professional and personal life”, he said.
He also urged the youth to stay focus, abstain from violence and not allow political parties to use them for their political gains during this year's general election.
The President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Ishmeal Tweneboa-Kodua stated that NUGS would not allow any of its constituents to be used by political parties for their selfish interest.
He added that NUGS had taken the position to kick against any sort of rigging in this years election.
He urged students to be the beam of light in their various endeavours and educate members of their community who were eligible to vote on their civic rights and the need to vote as citizens of Ghana.
The President of the Ghana Union of Professional Students (GUPS), Anthony Abotsi Afriyie said he opposed minors taking part in the electoral process as it had been stated clearly in the constitution and urged students to uphold the it and defend it at all times.
He further urged students to exhaust all processes available to them before they making a case against anyone who was not eligible to vote in order to avoid any chaos during the elections.
The two-day Summit would be held at the National Theatre in Accra from October 15 to 16, 2008 and start at 8 a.m. each day under the chairmanship of Dr Sir Sam Jonah, Chairman of Jonah Capitals, Johannesburg, South Africa.