By Mohamed Vandi in Kenema
Programme Manager of the Youth empowerment program of Network Movement for Justice and Development has told councilors in Kenema that the Youth Commission of Sierra Leone is “a white elephant and a mockery to the very institution”.
Denis Ngotho Lansana made this allegation while presenting the NMJD Youth Livelihood Situation report to councilors and other stakeholders at the city council.
“Most of the institutions created to champion and promote youth participation are porous and have no foundation to ensure effectiveness,” he said, adding that most youth continue to roam the streets in search of jobs and in rural communities. He said that in places where agriculture was the major source of livelihood youth did not have access to land and farming implements.
He said that youth had largely been left “at the mercy of unscrupulous politicians who always manipulate and misuse them for their selfish ends”.
He noted that the high level of illiteracy among youth and “the lack of willingness” on the part of the authorities to let the voices of the youth be heard had compounded the problem for the next generation.
Lansana said that one of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was “to give space to the youth and let their voices be heard in decision making structures at all levels.” He said youth should be involved fully in all decision making in their community.
He claimed that: “The local council’s development plans are silent on youth issues and that youth matters are regrettably treated with sheer neglect. Even budget allocations toward youth development programs have always been ridiculously meager.”
He said recreational centers, where the youth could converge to fraternize and reduce their stress, were lacking in both the city and the district councils.
He said the “cash and carry medical service in the country ensured that many young people died for want of ability to pay for medical services,” adding that many mothers watched their sons and daughters die in their 20s.
The NMJD Programme Manager suggested that more youth be given space, and job opportunities be created, before calling on non-governmental organizations and service providers to adequately and effectively utilize the energy of the youth.
He challenged the councils to establish a farm to be manned by them to ease the high recruitment problem in the district.
Several efforts to get the Youth Commissioner’s reaction proved futile as Anthony Koroma would not answer his calls.
(C) Politico 07/02/13
