No youth association has remained united and focused since the collapse of NSU-Dr.Clement

No youth association has remained united and focused since the collapse of NSU-Dr.Clement

A peace and development expert,Dr.Rev.father Clement Aapegnua has asserted that,since the collapse of the Northern Student's Union(NSU), which existed in the 1969s,no youth association in Northern Ghana has stood United and focused for a long time.

The union in his view,was a very strong and respected youth group present in all secondary schools and institutions of higher learning.The northern and upper regions at the time formed the north.The formidable student front eventually broke down.

He enumerated three issues,thus:politics,chieftaincy and ethnicity as major manacles to the survival of youth associations thereafter.

"In the 1969s,the Northern Student's Union, NSU was a very strong and well respected youth group.This front was broken and since then, no youth association in the north has stood united and focused for a long time.Three issue have always threatened a united front;politics, chieftaincy and ethnicity!I dare anyone to show me one youth association or group coming together for development that has survived 10 years!"he lamented.

Commenting on the motion,"the recent ban on charcoal burning in Gonjaland and matters arising" in a parliamentary forum held by Damongo Youth Parliament (DYP),he disclosed that,he became sad when he saw the ban on commercial charcoal burning and logging being linked to the Damongo chieftaincy issues,adding that his spirits fell immediately.He believes upon sober reflection that, conflict entrepreneurs will do whatever it takes to create conflict so they can continue to plunder and loot our natural resources.

He challenged the youth not to allow some few people who are benefiting from these "twin evils" to hold the rest of society to ransom by using chieftaincy and indigeneity to mask their heinous activities.
" Why are a few people benefiting from community property and holding everyone to ransom. Leave chieftaincy out of this. Let us identify those benefiting from this plunder of our natural resources and call then out. Let us not allow them to use chieftaincy and indigeneity to mask their CRIMINAL actives.Do our chiefs really understand the harm that is being caused? Who are their spokes persons?"he charged.

The youth and particularly, DYP according to him are the new generation leaders.And that any blame of leadership failure is squarely on the laps of the youth.
He called on the leadership of Damongo Youth Parliament(DYP), CSOs and NGOs to start thinking of wider forums, talk shows and others for public education and sensitization, and that true leaders take decisions by looking at the past, the present and 50 years from now before embarking on any cause of action. .

Other youth bemoaned the extent to which the recent ban on commercial charcoal burning is fast becoming a traditional and chieftaincy issue.

In a letter sighted by Ghanaweb's northern regional correspondent, a local radio station(PAD FM) has been banned by DISSEC from discussing any chieftaincy related natter in the West Gonja District.

The youth of Damongo recently protested against commercial charcoal burning and rosewood harvesting,prompting the Gonja Traditional Council to issue a letter banning same from the traditional area.
The banning which is in full force now,has since taken a path many describe as "politics of traditional power play".

Source:Ananpansah B Abraham(AB)