The National Youth Authority (NYA), on Friday called on all eligible young voters, especially those who have reached the age of 18 and would be first time voters, to take advantage of the national biometric voter registration exercise to register in their numbers.

“It is in registering that they become eligible to participate in governance in practical terms and have the opportunity to exercise their franchise when the opportunity arises.”

The call was made in a statement issued in Accra by Ms Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, Acting National Coordinator of NYA.

It said in addition to voting, their registration constituted a precious political weapon in which they could exploit to their advantage in negotiating their future within the perimeters of exercising the political and governance mandate of the political players and stakeholders.

However, the statement cautioned and advised the youth not to register twice, as this might lead to being disenfranchised. Adding that, young people who had not reached their voting age should avoid any tendency that would push them to fall foul with the laws and regulations guiding the exercise.

“The National Youth Authority enjoins the youth and all other responsible citizens, to go about the registration exercise with the decency and decorum that will safeguard the current peaceful democratic dispensation that we enjoy.”

The youth of Ghana between the ages of 15 and 35 constitute close to 50 per cent of the national population. In perspective, they are a critical human resource base for the sustainability of Ghana in her development agenda.

However, the harnessing of this crucial potential for better national development is premised on adequate structures of governance and leadership.

The right of the citizenry to choose national leadership has, therefore, taken centre stage and has become a special event in the affairs of every nation.

Ghana has experienced peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections which has earned her a niche in the ascribed growing democracies of the developing world, and the developed world as a whole.

The role of the youth in attaining this status cannot be understated.

As the statutory youth development authority, the NYA as useful partners in this enterprise congratulates the Electoral Commission (EC) for spearheading such electoral landmarks of global acclaim.

On the threshold of another national exercise, such as the biometric registration of voters towards consolidating the nascent and continuous fledging democratic gains, the NYA wishes to register its utmost confidence in the EC to equal the task, but not without the support and commitment of all stakeholders, the youth of whom are key in this democratic architectural enterprise we have all chosen to help construct.

The role of the youth in the exercise is paramount to the future of the youth, who are major stakeholders in the choice of national leadership.

"The Future belongs to the Youth” translates in practical terms into the youth exercising their franchise to make informed choices and decisions that not only empowers them, but exudes fulfillment of their long term aspirations and desires.**