By Henrietta Afful,Valentia Tetteh

Copyright gbcghanaonline

By: Valentia Tetteh

Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called on Ghanaian youth to reject a culture of political dependency and embrace a new mindset of self-reliance and patriotism to secure the country’s future.

Speaking at the Young Commons Forum Summit at the Central campus of the University of Education, Winneba, Mr. Afenyo-Markin challenged the next generation to move beyond reliance on government handouts and foreign loans, stressing that Ghana’s development depends on the creativity, discipline, and resolve of its young people.

Recalling past “poverty alleviation programmes” such as the one introduced by former President Jerry John Rawlings, where traders in the informal sector received financial support but failed to repay, the Minority Leader cautioned against repeating old patterns.

“Rawlings introduced the poverty alleviation programme where many traders in the informal sector got some financial support. People benefited, but they didn’t pay. And now MASLOC is here, and many of the youth are calling on the government to support them with facilities to do their business. Must we continue that path? No,” he declared.

“I urge you to be the new generational youth who would have a new mindset for our country, Ghana, so that together, we can survive in our democracy.”

Mr. Afenyo-Markin also warned against Ghana’s overreliance on foreign loans, pointing to a shifting global landscape where major economies prioritize their own domestic challenges.

“The days where Ghana can go cap in hand, looking for loans and grants, are over. If you go to the United States, they are thinking about themselves. The United Kingdom, they are thinking about themselves. These governments are under pressure to transform their own people. We are to create our own world here, and if you get the resources and you pay back, your colleague would also get it. So please, let’s support our government.”

The Minority Leader urged young Ghanaians to leverage their numbers, platforms, and voices to demand accountability and reject the politics of corruption and division.

“You, the youth, have the numbers, the platform, and the voice to change the culture of politics of our country. You can reject the old pattern of governance. I urge you to reject corruption and resist division whenever you encounter them.”

Acknowledging the challenges of leadership, Mr. Afenyo-Markin encouraged aspiring young leaders to prepare for sacrifice and resilience.

“Leadership will test you. It will demand sacrifice, resilience, and continuous learning. There will be moments of doubt, times when you face criticism, and days when setbacks make you question yourself. So prepare yourself for the future ahead of you.”

He also cautioned against the illusion of seeking better opportunities abroad, sharing his own experience as a student outside Ghana.

“All we have is our country, Ghana, none other. If you think you will travel abroad to make ends meet, you are deceiving yourself. I’ve been there as a student, and I know what people go through in West Africa. Ghana is way ahead, but our better days as a country are ahead of us.”

Mr. Afenyo-Markin urged the youth to use social media to promote patriotism and policy engagement rather than partisan attacks.

“Let’s not spend our time on social media abusing one another. Let us spend the time to question policies, show patriotism, and be determined to make Ghana a better place. It really doesn’t matter which political divide you belong to. In the end, if the political leaders realize that the citizens are watching them and will judge them by their policies and how successfully they implement them, there will be a change in approach. Enough of the vicious cycle of ‘I do you, you do me.’”

The Young Commons Forum Summit, themed “Empowering the Next Generation for Leadership and Nation-Building,” brought together politicians, students and youth leaders to deliberate on the role of young people in shaping Ghana’s democratic and economic future, It was also an opportunity to outdoor new executives to steer the affairs of the Young Commons Forum, YCF, UEW.

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