First Deputy Speaker educates students on democracy
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Joseph Osei Owusu, yesterday hosted the Students’ Parliament Council (SPC) of the Accra Technical University (ATU) at the Parliament House in an interactive session to enhance their knowledge of democracy.
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The meeting was centred on the role of students in upholding in high esteem, Ghana’s democratic credentials and the Constitution, as well as students’ responsibility in promoting and deepening the best democratic principles.
Deepen your understanding
Mr Owusu admonished the students to deepen their understanding in democracy, saying, “What I urge is for you to orientate yourself.
“Our politics will be deepened if we encourage discussions based on facts and evidence and are able to differentiate between rumours, evidence, allegations and also ask questions,” he added.
In promoting democratic principles, the First Deputy Speaker reiterated the need for politics to be built on the foundation of facts and aspirations that were reasonable.
He urged people to make their choices based on their own expectations and such expectations must be factual and doable.
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Rationale of programme
Referring to the rationale behind the programme in Parliament, Mr Osei Owusu threw more light on the importance of accountability as a factor in involving the youth in governance.
He charged the students to hold leaders responsible for the usage of taxpayers’ money.
“After election, the people we elect are obliged to some responsibilities. They must be accountable.
“If the people are going to feel a part of the governance system, they must know how and why they pay taxes,” he added.
Mr Osei Owusu implored the youth to criticise any information they receive by asking questions, adding, “Our press friends here, to get us to read will create headlines which are often totally different from the story we read. But it is your duty to go behind the headlines, read the story and ask further questions,” he noted.
At the end of the session, the students were advised to focus on learning the act of character, competence and care as they were key principles in democracy.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Ms Anita Nhyira, who is the head of the SPC in the ATU, lauded Mr Osei Owusu for promoting students politics by making time for them and allowing them to tap into his wealth of knowledge.