• Contact
  • Archive
  • Republish
  • Contribute
  • Awards
  • Networks
  • About
  • Home

"The Youth Perspective"

A Youth Blog supported by

Commonwealth Youth Programme logo
  • Social Development
    • Democracy
    • Education
    • Health
    • Culture
    • Peace
    • Sport
    • Human Rights
    • Gender & LGBTI
  • Economic Development
    • Entrepreneurship & Employment
    • Economy & Trade
    • Environment & Climate
    • Small States
  • Youth Policy
    • Commonwealth News
    • Sustainable Development Goals
    • Youth Development
    • Youth Work
    • Youth Networks
  • Regions
    • All Countries
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Caribbean & Americas
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Videos
  • Bright Ideas
Latest:
  • Education is more than classroom-based learning
  • ‘We must not tire in the tough battle for gender equality’
  • Creating safe spaces for young people
  • 20 finalists announced for Commonwealth Youth Awards 2021
  • Youth perspectives: democracy in Uganda
  • Empowering youth as peacebuilders
  • Commonwealth countries ended 2020 with ‘uplifting’ and ‘powerful’ musical collaboration
  • Nigerian youths have found their voice
  • Police brutality has no place in our society #ENDSARS
  • Nigerian youths just want to live their lives
Editor's Pick
Rate this
5 (2 votes)
“Law student poised to join the legislature”
5 out of 5 based on 2 user ratings

“Law student poised to join the legislature”

April 28, 2016 3217 views Africa, civic engagement, Democracy, Ghana, Politics, Youth Leadership

Michael Gyekye new picLaw student Francisca Oteng-Mensah is the youngest nominee for a seat in Ghana’s Parliament.This November, she will run as an opposition candidate in Ghana’s Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. The trailblazer could become the youngest MP in Ghana and one of the youngest legislators across the Commonwealth. Michael Gyekye, 23, a Correspondent from Koforidua in Ghana, interviewed the youthful politician about her story, goals, and her views on youth and women participation in politics. The following transcript has been edited for clarity and space.

Michael Gyekye: Can you tell us a little about yourself and your educational and/or professional background?

Francisca Oteng-Mensah: I am 23 years old and the eldest of four children. I am currently pursuing an LLB at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana – presently in the third year. I am an alumnus of the St. Roses Senior High School, where I read General Arts. I had my basic education at the Angel Educational Complex. Besides my studies and political activities, I regularly volunteer to offer mentorship support to trainees of a local women empowerment and vocational training outfit, NEWIG.

MG: How have you adjusted to life since you shot into the limelight as the youngest person to run for a seat in the Parliament of Ghana?

FO: It has not been easy. Certainly not in dealing with the press, who aside all, want to pry into your privacy as much as they can. Combining the enormous responsibilities of my new position with my studies and other commitments has also been no less challenging. Thanks to efficient time management however, the adjustment has gone well so far.

MG: What attracted you to politics and what would be your primary goals as a Member of Parliament?

Going into politics has always been a dream even though I never supposed my entry into national politics would occur under the circumstances it has. My passion to help people overcome challenges in the society and my desire to help sustainably mobilize adequate resources to help tackle societal challenges have been my primary motivations all along.

My principal objective as an MP would be to help improve access to quality basic education for every child in Ghana, especially the children in my constituency, the Kwabre-East Constituency of the Ashanti Region. I believe educational interventions like the Capitation Grant, School Feeding Program and the free use of public transport services by basic school pupils, introduced by my now opposition party when in government a few years ago to boost basic school enrolment, could all be kick-started to promote this agenda.

MG: Which present or past political figure or public office holder inspires you the most? How does this person inspire you?

intervieweeFO: [Laughs] First, I have such a large number of such role models that singling out any is just difficult. Further, I am discouraged from mentioning particular names as our society tends to reflexively associate any perceived or actual bad traits of such figures with one. I am however impressed by qualities as discipline, courage, good lobbying skills, eloquence, ambition and even piety, among leaders. Given a combination of all such great attributes is rare to find in any single individual, I tend to learn from any person who happens to possess any.

MG: Women are traditionally marginalized in politics, which is especially true in young democracies like Ghana’s. What hopes do you believe your trailblazing feat provide for reversing this trend in Ghana and the many other places across Africa and the developing world where this problem persists?

FO: Sure, that’s a very important issue in politics across almost the entire world. In the cases of Ghana and Africa, I reckon inequalities in economic capabilities between men and women is a crucial contributory factor. I hope my story would inspire a serious attention to this particular restraining factor and the need to economically empower women to help bridge gaps in economic capabilities between the genders. This is a prerequisite for achieving greater gender balance in political representation in societies.

MG: You are an inspiration to many young people worldwide. What counsel do you have for fellow youth around the world who wish to follow your footsteps or defy odds to create change in their own societies?

FO: I encourage them to be confident, have faith in themselves, seek and heed good advice and diligently pursue their ambitions to inspire their desired goals in their communities. I also encourage them to avail themselves of opportunities through extracurricular activities etc. to prepare themselves effectively for their aspired roles. I believe it is always essential for balanced representation of all demographic groups in national and political decision-making, hence my encouragement of the youth to seek adequate representation in politics as a means to attract sufficient attention to our enormous and wide-ranging challenges.

MG: Thank you.

FO: A pleasure.

Photo credits: courtesy of Micheal Gyekye

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

About me: I aspire to become a legal practitioner and scholar. I hope to lead an international law firm and lecture in a world-class law school in the future. I love to read, write, teach and travel. I am fascinated by local and international developments in politics, business, technology, sports and culture.

I am currently a final-year undergraduate student of political studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. I will finish school in May this year and graduate in June.

Reach me on Facebook at Michael Adu Gyekye

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Commonwealth Youth Programme. Articles are published in a spirit of dialogue, respect and understanding. If you disagree, why not submit a response?

To learn more about becoming a Commonwealth Correspondent please visit: http://www.yourcommonwealth.org/submit-articles/commonwealthcorrespondents/

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Comments

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments

About pat_perkel
Flashback to the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 2016
“Get involved and give back to the Earth”

Related Posts

Economic Development

COVID-19: Time to reboot in Nigeria?

June 10, 2020 1633

It may sound bizarre for one to say that the coronavirus pandemic has a positive side, but…

Read more
Editor's Pick

Easing COVID-19 restrictions in Cameroon

May 29, 2020 1417

Life in Cameroon is slowly returning to normal despite the continued increase in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases…

Read more

@ComSecYouth

Follow us
  • The cultural acts from around the #Commonwealth are: #Africa: @ChoirAfrica @Gasper_Nali #Asia: London School of… https://t.co/HSMMs11GeI

    10 hours ago
  • 💥 The #CommonwealthYouth Awards (#CYA) are only two days away! In anticipation of the Awards, check out the cultura… https://t.co/XMoDzGdKdn

    10 hours ago

Newsletter

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Correspondent of the Month

Correspondent of the Month

Mohammad Tanvir Anjum, 17, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Bangladesh.

Find your nearest Commonwealth Correspondent

Learn more
  • Application Form to attend the 10th Commonwealth Youth Forum
  • Apply to be part of the Stakeholder Forum at the 9th Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting
  • Bright Ideas Code of Conduct and Disclaimers
  • Bright Ideas competition terms and conditions
  • Commonwealth Correspondents
  • Commonwealth Peace-building Network
  • Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network
  • Commonwealth Youth Forum Zero Draft
  • Commonwealth Youth Health Network
  • Commonwealth Youth Reference Documents and Reports
  • Everything you need to know before the Commonwealth Youth Forum 2018
  • Hosting a Bright Ideas event
  • How Bright Ideas Works
  • Meet the CYHRDN Members
  • Presentation tips for speakers
  • Recording and sending your Bright Idea
  • Registration to the Youth Leaders Forum – 9th Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting
  • The Commonwealth Youth Forum Declaration & Action Plan
  • Home
  • About Us
  • News and Videos
  • Your Correspondents
  • #13294 (no title)
  • 2013 Commonwealth Youth Award Winners
  • Africa finalists
  • Archive
  • Asia finalists
  • Bright Ideas
  • Caribbean & Canada finalists
  • Commonwealth Alliance of Youth Entrepreneurs
  • Commonwealth Awards
  • Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network
  • Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards 2015
  • Commonwealth Students Association
  • Commonwealth Youth Awards
  • Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network
  • Commonwealth Youth Council
  • Commonwealth Youth Human Rights and Democracy Network
  • Commonwealth Youth Sport for Development and Peace Working Group
  • Competitions
  • Contact Us
  • Contribute
  • Countries
  • Economic Development
  • FAQ
  • Networks
  • Pacific finalists
  • Regions & Countries
  • Republish
  • Social Development
  • Submit articles
  • Submit videos
  • Test Your Knowledge
  • Topics
  • Twitter Feed
  • Young Professionals Programme
  • Youth Policy
  • Winners of Commonwealth Youth Awards 2015 Announced
  • Terms of use
  • 2012 Commonwealth Youth Award Winners
  • Disclaimer
  • Useful links
  • Sitemap
  • Youth Work Week 2012
©2017 YourCommonwealth. 93digital - WordPress Web Design.