At the back of the myriad challenges facing the youth in Africa and its rippling effect on local communities and states , FOSDA, under the West African Human Rights Democratisation (WAHRD) Programme and in collaboration with partners in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Togo, held its first West African Youth in Governance Workshop in January 2010 in  Accra, Ghana.

The Workshop, under the theme; ‘the West African Youth, A credible Partner for Sustainable Peace and Development’,  brought together young people from Ghana, Sierra Leone and Togo to learn and share their experiences on the challenges and opportunities available to the West African Youth to participate in decision making processes in their communities and countries in general.

The principal objective of the workshop was to equip the participants with the tools, skills and confidence to partner government both at the local and national level in building sustainable peace and development in their immediate environment.   The Participants, who were mainly young people within the ages of 16 to 25, were drawn from Senior High schools in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Togo.

Participants were trained on relevant and strategic topics which includes; Youth and Human Security and Rights, The role of the West African youth in promoting non violent elections, understanding politics and partnering Government for development, understanding the influence of the media and using it for development , career Development, Health tips for the youth and peer education.   

The participants were treated to other recreational activities such as a tour of the University of Ghana, Accra Mall and a trip to the Akosombo dam. The intension was for them to experience the foresighted leadership of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and benefits of democracy and good governance.

The workshop concluded with a debate among participants on the theme of the workshop, “the West African Youth is a Credible Partner for Sustainable Peace and Development.”  Participants were to use their experiences and knowledge gained through out the workshop to speak for or against the topic.

At the end of the three days workshop, the participants were tasked with various activities to be executed in the various schools and communities as a way of ensuring that the knowledge gained from this platform is shared with other colleagues.

FOSDA and her partners intend to continue their engagement with the youth in creative and participatory ways that would instill a Culture of Peace in the West African Youth.