Is Africa Suffocating its Young Generation?
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| A. Rajolina, Africa's youngest president |
When a state places so much priority on age, she only succeeds in imprisoning the imaginations of her people. If by the thinking of our forefathers, an 18 year old is deemed fit and capable of exercising reasonable judgement in choosing a leader; why can’t he/she also be voted for? The ideas and prejudices of the ruling class have created such crushing weights on the minds of many.
Over the years, the youth are unfortunately referred to as future leaders, making them docile until a much later age, as their counterparts in other countries put their energy to use, hit blockbusters and make big impact. Others are sitting on board meetings, governaning, driving policies, and adding massively to technology. They have proven over and over again that given the opportunity, much can be expected.
It is such a paradox to refer to an 18 year old as an adult capable of reason when he/she commits a crime; but inadequate when it comes to holding a political office. It’s high time these walls collapsed to open the door for the youth to contribute their quota to good governance.
Some people assert that realistically, an 18 year old may not have gathered enough experience to occupy public office. But the question is, would that same 18 year old have gathered enough experience to choose a leader wisely? What becomes of the answer to the question of fairness to an 18 year old that pops up as an exception, having all the requisite qualifications, including “experience,”except for her age?
Legislations are not only meant to ensure law and order, they are also meant to inspire and challenge imaginations. What is the essence of a state when it is so much in doubt about the capabilities of its citizens; when it is so fraudulently afraid to stimulate the imaginations of its people; when it is so ready to apply the rules of limitation than that of freedom; when it preaches the virtues of democracy but is not prepared to grow in its dynamism?
Making a people perceive that things are possible is one way of speeding up growth and development in any country. A confident population would certainly nurture global leaders. This may be in the fields of business and commerce, agriculture, politics, public speaking, engineering, inventions, economics, religion and a host of others.
Child prodigies are gifts to their nations; these are kids with exceptional capabilities.The likes of Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832), British philosopher, economist, and jurist, who founded the doctrine of utilitarianism was reading serious treatises at the age of three, playing the violin at age five and studying Latin and French at age six. By age 12, he had entered the University of Oxford where he studied law, and was admitted to the bar. Ghana’s own Tsatsu Tsikata is one such personality; little Mordecai, the chap who represented Ghana at the United Nations Child Conference and now an active campaigner on global warming is certainly another – and there are many more.
People need to dream big. Leadership requires responsibility and for every parent, the most important thing they may want to see is the fulfilment of raising responsible children-purposeful and initiative driven. Have we for a moment thought of the impact on a child who knows that at her age she is capable of running for public office, including the Presidency?
Out of their homes, gushed out men and women of inflammable social and ethnic origins. In jubilant mode, they held up in colourful gatherings throughout Kenya-it was the birth of a new constitution. Although new, this constitution like all the others, carry’s the prejudice of age limitations in vying for public office. Ghana has a chance through its ongoing constitutional review process to open up the future to its people. Should this materialise, it would be the first country on earth to have demonstrated such enormous confidence in its population and the inviolability of their choices.
The temptation for some people to assume to be wiser than others is quite unavoidable.In cases of leadership, the people must always decide. If at a point in time, the people so desire and decide to have for themselves an 18 year old as their Assembly man or woman, District Chief Executive, Member of Parliament, Minister or even President, as absurd as it may sound to the so-called wise, so be it!
Africa needs this liberating reform now. For a very long time its people have enjoyed very limited freedoms, counting from the period of slavery, to colonialism, through to independence, to the era of civilian and military despotism, coupled with the neo-colonial conditions the continent faces generally.
The principles of Freedom and Liberty have a direct correlation with the level of development of a country. A people’s choice of colour could go a long way to show the freedoms they have. No nation can develop fully when its liberties and freedoms are stolen. The misconception held on countries that are breaking through the roofs of financial success like China is that its people have limited freedoms. Contrary to this assertion, the freedoms and liberties of the Chinese were not curtailed but rather contained as history will show how for instance, Chairman Mao gave the people the freedom and liberty to import whatever goods they required over a period of time, on condition that they were able to produce exactly what they had been allowed to import. Today, China is the best producer destination and the second largest economy in the world. Hu Jing Tao, China’s current President is today referred to as a peace time developer.
Currently, youth movements across the world including President @ 18 Campaign Movement is proclaiming with one voice - “remove the barrier; give us a chance! There were days in Ghana when the basis for voting or being voted for was tied to educational qualifications and access to property worth not less than 6 pound sterling (that was a lot of money then). But all these changed. We moved to a franchise age of 25 years, followed by 21 and arrived to 18. Elsewhere, America for instance denied people this right alltogether just because of the colour of their skin and some for the fact that they were born women. Today young people are asking intelligent questions and attempting to climb the heaps even when they are told that they lack experience or it is impossible.
The young inexperienced starlets of Ghana in the just ended FIFA World Cup games in South Africa proved to the world what they could do if given the chance. Contrary to the expectation of missing the Michael Essien’s and Laryea Kinston’s, these young inexperienced starlets crystallised by the Dede Ayew’s played their hearts out in search for answers for their beloved country. This is what our young men and women have to offer - their hearts! President at 18? It is possible! Africa needs to find its spirit now!
By Ernesto Yeboah
The author is a media Practitioner, Political Activist and author of Students’ Manifesto-the Promise of a Fulfilling Student Movement in Africa.He can be reached at [email protected].