A Research Fellow and author, Dr. Charles Prempeh, has called on Ghanaian youth to align their political activism with the country’s cultural, religious, and historical foundations. Speaking on Focus FM’s “Good Morning KNUST” show, he shared insights from his new book, “Youth Activism in Modern Politics in Ghana” and offered practical advice to the youth.
Dr. Prempeh stressed that youth activism must reflect Ghana’s unique identity. He urged young people to ensure their dreams and actions align with the values and beliefs of many Ghanaians.
According to him, strong and lasting movements are built when youth connect their ideas to Ghana’s political traditions, culture, and religion. “Young people should be able to align their aspirations to the multiple loyalties that Ghanaians have.
For young people to succeed in ensuring a well-constituted political movement that endures the test of time, they should align their ideas with our indigenous political philosophy, and cultural setup” he said. Addressing the issues of young people seeking greener pastures abroad, he noted that life abroad is not as green as we think rather, he encouraged young people to resist the growing culture of unrealistic expectations.
“Sometimes we think life is better elsewhere until we get there. Whatever your hands find to do, do it well if it’s legal and reflects your people’s values, we all have a role to play in our own spaces to make the world a better place” he added
Dr Prempeh explained that his book is meant to help young people reflect and learn from Ghana’s past to build a better future. “We must investigate our history and identify paradigms and patterns and that will give us a clear sense of where we are going as a nation.
We must make a sober reflection on national issues and not make knee-jerk reactions to address complex issues, he urged. He also called for changes in Ghana’s education system.
Instead of focusing only on technical skills, he believes education should help students understand their role in society and the deeper reasons behind what they learn.