Former NPP General Secretary and CEO of Forestry Commission, Hon. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John) has thrown his weight of support for the launch of Ghana’s Youth Presidential Race 2019, an initiative of leadership empowerment by Youth Leadership Parliament Foundation, an NGO for youth development in Ghana,

The event which took place at the GIMPA Law faculty moot auditorium on Friday 5th July 2019.

Speaking at the launch, Sir John who was Chairman of the occasion, challenged the youth to dream beyond limits to achieve their ambitions and to become leaders of the future, government is building for them. He called on all political parties and Civil Society organizations to throw their weight behind this laudable initiative by Youth Parliament which has set the pace to nurture future Presidents and Ministers for Ghana. He further thanked the founder of the Parliament Mr. Kobby Fabian, for his initiative because he believes that Youth Parliament as it stands, is now the academy of learning for political leadership in Ghana.

Dignitaries in attendance of the launch was the Presidential Candidate of the CPP , Mr. Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, the MP for Ledzokuku constituency , Hon. Dr. Okoe Boye ,Board Chair of Ghana Gas, Hon. Christine Churcher, Mr Marricke Kofi Gane an aspiring Presidential Candidate for 2020(Independent) , the Executive Director of the Progressive People’s Party Representatives from the Saudi Ambassador………….., Representatives from the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Mr Jignesh Viradia a Business Mogul and Global finance consultant, and Rev. Elvis Eben-Baffour of the Christ’s Oasis Ministry, Airport City.

Mr. Fabian explained that, Youth Presidential Cabinet is a Model Presidential Race, a Reality TV Show, which creates the platform for all aspiring young leaders, to showcase their leadership skills and ambitions to compete in a Presidential Race for ‘Ghana’s Youth President 2019.’

The Presidents and their Cabinet of Ministers will compete and pitch their Manifesto and Policy documents against each other, whilst championing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the UN before the Chamber of Youth Leadership Parliament and a panel of experienced judges.

Judges will examine the content of their Manifestos and key skills demonstrated by these young leaders to score them through various stages of tests and eliminations until the final stage. A Youth President will ultimately emerge with his ‘Cabinet Ministers’ as the winning team and various awards will be given. This project’s objectives are to promote good governance and make the 17 pillars of the UN SDGs, the center drive in leadership amongst our youth for development in Ghana.

Mr. Kobby Fabian, in his address, challenged the youth of Ghana to engage government on decision and discussion on issues that affect the present and their future, he opined, “if indeed the future belongs to the youth, then the youth must be a part of decisions that impact on building that future which belongs to them”