Orison Sweet Marden supports this view and adds, “Who would have ever heard of Theodore Roosevelt outside of his own community if he had only half committed himself to what he had undertaken?
“The great secret of his career has been that he has flung his whole life, not a part of it, with all the determination and energy and power he could muster, into everything he has undertaken.”
The Millennium Declaration is a commitment to development, peace and human rights to make the world a buoyant one by 2015. A look at the MDGs and the time frame left for its realization shows that there must be more action and more youth participation.
Here in Ghana, youth participation in issues that affect them is not laudable as compared to what prevails in other countries. Indirectly or directly the youth of Africa and specifically Ghana are affected by the first seven goals of the MDGs and as such the onus is on the youth to take actions that are geared at augmenting what our leaders are doing.
One might think erroneously that achieving all the Goals by 2015 is the sole responsibility of politicians and that the layman politician or civilian has little to do. Even though, our elected leaders must wok to the realization of the Goals, it is also the duty of every Ghanaian to remind them of the commitments that they have already made.
A lot needs to be done to increase youth participation in issues like poverty. Awareness on the MDGs must be increased in our second cycle institutions though the formation of MDG clubs. These clubs will provide a congenial place of the youth to engage themselves in healthy discussions that are geared towards the realization of the Goals.
Even though, the government is doing well, I recommend that more young people should be consulted and involved in poverty reduction plans because statistics have shown that despite the youth constituting more than 50 percent of the population of many countries, governments rarely consult young people on matters affecting their lives, for example poverty reduction efforts. Also, the youth who have already taken action at making the country a sustainable place to live in, must be supported and encouraged to keep up with their effervescent spirit and actions at ameliorating current situations in Ghana.
Ending poverty by 2015 in Ghana won’t be a reality unless the youth of Ghana get actively involved in strategies which are aimed at making the making the MDGs a reality.
Who can better speak for young people than young people themselves?
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