Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Korle Klottey, has cautioned Ghanaian youth against taking the nation’s peace for granted.
She further called on the youth to remain vigilant in protecting the nation’s peace and unity, warning against being dragged into unnecessary conflicts fueled by reckless political, religious, or ethnic rhetoric.
A statement issued by the Office of the MP said Dr Agyeman-Rawlings made the call at a National Youth Conference organised by the National Youth Authority (NYA) at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings, who is also the Chairperson for the Parliamentary Select Committee on Security and Intelligence, underscored the importance of harmony as the foundation of Ghana’s progress.
“You are in Ghana today, and I can assure you, you have no idea what it means to be in a country where there is war. Let us not take it for granted,” she told the gathering of young leaders and delegates.
“The peace we enjoy is what allows us to sit together in this room today, from different ethnic groups, different regions – in harmony,” she said.
The MP emphasised that Ghana’s diversity should be a source of strength rather than division, adding that the country could only develop if “we recognise that in our diversity is strength. Let us tap into that, and let us make sure that we continue to be the shining Black Star of this continent for others to learn from,” she stated.
She also cautioned the youth not to allow divisive figures to disrupt the future they were building, saying: “Do not allow people making reckless statements to lead you into disrupting a potential future that you have… not a politician, not a traditional leader, not a religious leader, not even an academic should take that away from you.”
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings rallied the youth by calling for a collective responsibility and asking them to be patriotic and law-abiding citizens.
The National Youth Conference brought together participants from across the country to deliberate on the role of young people in Ghana’s democratic and developmental journey.