“Older men declare war, but it is the youth that must fight and die”- Herbert Hoover.
As I soberly reflect on these words, I ask myself the kind of wars that are being declared for the African youth to fight and die.
A battle of promoting political thuggery and violence?
A battle of “normalizing” politics of insults?
A battle of rationalizing and defending immoral and corrupt
deeds?
A battle of nepotism and ethnocentrism?
A battle of silence when the truth is known?
A battle of brutality against civilians in their own land?
A battle of seemingly silence when Africans are suffering in the hands of their own governments?
A battle of being the first to solidarize with happenings in other parts of the world when youth are being brutalized and assaulted in their own countries like the recent happenings in Nigeria?
A battle of being used as slaves to enrich their families and
descendants?
I wonder if after our death in such battles, we will be given
a befitting burial as African youth…
Why must the African youth stoop so low to be engaged in such
battles whiles the older folks enjoy their peace and wealth?
Can we as African youth be united in hearts and mind that if
wars on thuggery, political violence are declared by older men, their spouses
and children will lead the army on the battle field?
Sadly, the African youth is already confronted with several
battles aimed at securing a path of progress and changing the African narrative
to a one we all can be proud of.
We
live in a country [continent] where our young ladies who have recently attained
the age of puberty cannot afford sanitary pads, but our men and women in public
offices have ipads which they do not even know how to use. ― PLO Lumumba.
These
words of PLO Lumumba resonate with many young Africans who are going through “hell”
to deal with their God-given duty of child bearing in their puberty stages
Ask the unemployed African youth the kind of job offer he/she
is looking out for and the most likely answer is “any decent job that can put
food on the table”. These are the real
wars the African youth is battling with….
The African female youth in her mid-twenties and early
thirties is battling with unnecessary and needless pressure from friends and
families on marriage?
The African “boyfriend” hoping to settle down soon is
battling with undue and unnecessary financial pressure from his “slay queen” of
a girlfriend.
The industrious and determined “African girlfriend” is
battling with that exploitative and abusive boyfriend of hers.
The African youth is battling with the war of securing a
permanent and sustainable job offer after several volunteering and contract job
offers.
The young African entrepreneur is battling with breaking
through the markets and developing a good and sustainable business.
The young African career lady is battling with corporate
job-stress, marital and parental duties….
My
dear African Youth, it is time to declare our own battle for progress. The time
has come for us to fight the battle of self-liberation and mental slavery. It
is time to deal with issues of inequalities and vulnerabilities. This is the
time for us to take our destiny into our hands. A time to charter a path of
progress.
This
is indeed the surest time to declare wars where we will fight and live happily
forever.
“We need
to build a continent where anyone from anywhere can become somebody without knowing
anybody”….
This must the dream of the 21st century African
youth!!!
This is what the youth expect from the older folks at the
helm of affairs.
This is the dream and vision of the poorest African Child
living in the remotest part of the continent.
This dream can only be realized when as African Youth we
light our candles in our little corner and see how bright the continent will be.
To my fellow African youth, let us not give up in our quest to ensure a brighter Africa. let us stay united and focused in our battle for socio-economic and political freedom. anytime the journey gets tough, let us be mindful of the beautiful words of the great African leader and soldier, "The forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than the superimposed influences that keep us apart." Dr. Kwame Nkrumah
African Youth!!! Arise and Shine!!!
Kwame Ohene-Ntow,
YALI Dream,
A better Ghana,
A brighter Africa.
The
writer holds a Master’s degree in Development Policy and Planning from KNUST, a
bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Ghana
Business School, A YALI fellow and team member of the SOS-CV “No
Business as Usual Project” which is promoting local socio-economic development
and training youth in employable and entrepreneurial skills in Kumasi.
Email:
Vincentntow12@gmail.com
