Ashesi Citi Dialogue: Actively participate in shaping Ghana’s public policy – Dzogbenuku tells youth

Ms. Brigitte Dzogbenuku, Executive Director of Mentoring Women Ghana and former presidential candidate for the Progressive People’s Party, has called on Ghanaian youth, particularly students, to take a proactive role in shaping public policy and upholding democratic principles. Speaking at the Ashesi Citi Dialogue on November 14, under the theme “Scholarship, Leadership, Citizenship, and Nation Building,” she emphasized the unique position and resources today’s youth have to drive meaningful change in Ghana’s development.

Ms. Dzogbenuku highlighted that young people today have access to opportunities and platforms that previous generations lacked, which allows them to make significant contributions to national progress. Reflecting on her experiences growing up in a time without democratic freedoms, she recounted the challenges of political unrest and authoritarian rule, noting that her first voting experience in 1992 came after years of limited political engagement options.

She encouraged students to leverage their educational privilege and engage actively in democratic processes, explaining that their involvement is crucial for sustaining democratic values in Ghana. She urged the youth to be more than passive observers, advising them to participate actively in public policy and work toward a Ghana that prioritizes the common good.