YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL LEVEL GOVERNANCE IN GHANA: A CASE OF WA MUNICIPALITY OF THE UPPER WEST REGION

Abstract

This study investigates participation of the Ghanaian youth in local level governance decision making of Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region of Ghana. It looks at the areas of youth involvement in local level governance, examines factors that hinder effective youth participation and draws on practical measures to enhance their meaningful participation. The thesis adopts exploratory case study to seek answers by using purposive sampling to conduct focus group discussions and key informant interviews with a sample size of 30 respondents. Findings suggest revenue mobilization, fee fixing, and youth parliament as among the areas of youth involvement in local level governance. Evidently however, factors impinging on youth participation are level of education, discrimination, inadequate resources and institutional barriers and partisan politics. It is recommended among others that there is the need to intensify and sustain public education of youth on issues of local level governance to enhance their participation. Again, there is the need for intensive sensitization of all to curb the negative perceptions of adults to see youth as equal partners in development of the municipality.