Accra: Parliament's Department of Public Engagement has conducted stakeholder consultations on the proposed Student Parliament Charter, designed to formalize and guide student parliaments across tertiary institutions affiliated with the House. Superintendent (Retd.) Mrs. Effia Tenge, Director of Public Engagement, Parliamentary Service, emphasized that the charter aims to create a structured, inclusive, and non-partisan platform for students to share, debate, and refine ideas.
According to Ghana News Agency, a statement released by Mr. David Sebastian Damaoh, Director of Media Relations, Parliamentary Service, highlighted the charter's proposal. The statement urged students to actively contribute to the charter's development, presenting it as a chance to have a meaningful voice in governance, leadership, and national development.
Key topics discussed during the consultation included governance structures, membership criteria, electoral processes, non-partisanship, and inclusion, with an emphasis on gender balance and disability representation. Participants viewed the initiative as a means to enhance civic education and increase youth participation in democratic processes. While endorsing the charter's focus on non-partisanship, they called for stronger measures against political interference and proposed clearer guidelines on leadership tenure, succession planning, and electoral dispute resolution to enhance transparency and accountability.
The statement indicated that feedback from the consultations will be incorporated into a revised draft for further review. Once implemented, the charter is expected to formalize Student Parliaments as platforms linked to Parliament, providing a structured pathway for youth engagement in governance. Currently, the Parliament of Ghana has over 3,000 registered student members nationwide.
The initiative aims to offer students practical exposure to legislative processes while encouraging debate on issues impacting youth development. The Department plans to continue consultations with other stakeholders, including universities, Members of Parliament, and educators, in the coming weeks. Participating institutions included All Nations University, Central University, University of Media Arts and Communication, the University of Ghana, University of Professional Studies, Pentecost University, Wisconsin International University, Islamic University, Ghana, and Accra Technical University, along with student speakers and civil society organizations.