Upper West Youth Parliament Trains Young People and Women to Strengthen Civic Participation

The Upper West Regional Youth Parliament has trained young people and women in civic participation and social accountability, aiming to strengthen their role in local governance and decision-making.

Held on September 25, 2026, the capacity-building session was part of the second phase of the Heard Everywhere and Represented Daily (HEARD) project, implemented in partnership with SAVE-Ghana and Norsaac.

Speaker of the Upper West Regional Youth Parliament, Ms Samira Salifu Napiini, said development could not be meaningful unless the views of young people and women, particularly those in rural and vulnerable communities were heard and taken seriously.

Queenmother of Babile, Pognaa Rose Haku, also stressed the importance of youth voices in society’s holistic development. She urged leaders and communities to create opportunities for young people to express themselves.

For Mr Salifu Ahmed, president of the Fulbe Youth Association of Ghana’s Upper West Chapter, the training provided practical insights into how young people can communicate their concerns respectfully, access public information and seek redress through the Assembly’s Public Relations and Complaints Committee (PRCC).

Participant Mr Abdul-Salam Angaamwini, from the Kperisi Electoral Area in the Wa Municipality, said he was particularly interested to learn that contractors are expected to display project signboards. The signs provide information that can help residents understand and monitor ongoing works.

The HEARD project seeks to increase the voice, participation and inclusion of rural and vulnerable youth and women in Ghana’s governance structures and processes. It responds to the continued underrepresentation of these groups in decision-making spaces.