Boakai, Weah to sign Youth Manifesto
Unity Party Standard Bearer, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai and Coalition for Democratic Change Standard Bearer Senator George M. Weah are today, Monday, 30 October expected to sign a youth manifesto here, committing themselves to peace and violence-free election Addressing a news conference over the weekend in Monrovia, the President of the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) Augustine S.M. Tamba discloses that the two candidates will sign the youth manifesto as a pledge of their commitment to youth development in the country during, and after the electoral period.
He says FLY seeks the National Youth Manifesto as a complementary youth development document that supports the National Youth Act of 2013, which is yet to be passed into law. “FLY strongly believes that Youth Manifesto as a development document spells out the hopes, aspirations and expectations of young people as we move toward the November 7 runoff election, and beyond”, Mr. Tamba notes. He says the manifesto suggests a roadmap for a historic approach to youth development in Liberia.
The FLY boss reminds stakeholders that the future of Liberia rests in the hands of the youth, saying that the key to a positive future for Liberia is that young people should be educated, empowered, and Engaging.
According to him, young people between ages 14 and 35 make up 65 percent of the total population and represents an estimated 59 percent of eligible voters.
The FLY President stresses that changing the mindset of the youth remains an urgent and passing goal for the Federation, that the success of redirecting negative ideologies that have corrupted the minds of young people in the past is extremely necessary in the rebuilding process of the country.
Meanwhile, Tamba narrates that the political and civil consciousness of Liberia youth remain the key to assisting the advancement of Liberia development, and this involvement of young people in policy formulation will create the opportunity for participatory democracy and good governance.
“We appreciate the government for the space provided us to operate as an institution; however we think as a federation that the signing of the youth manifesto by these two political parties’ candidates is a step toward youth participation, and nation building in the next government”.
FLY calls on every young people in the country to remain peaceful, deferential and dedicated to issues-based election rather than trivialities that will promote division, adding by doing this will provide the platform for those seeking votes to be committed to youth development rather than providing empty promises to the young people, and citizens at large.
By Lewis S. Teh-Editing by Jonathan Browne
