The Parliament of Ghana, through its Department of Public Engagement, has held stakeholder consultations on a proposed Student Parliament Charter to guide its work with student groups at tertiary institutions affiliated with Parliament.
Speaking at the forum, Director of Public Engagement, Supt. (Retd.) Mrs Effia Tenge said the proposed charter is intended to create a structured, inclusive and non-partisan platform where students’ ideas can be heard, debated and refined. She urged students to actively contribute to shaping the document, describing the process as an opportunity to give them a meaningful voice in governance, leadership, and national development.
Key issues discussed included governance structures, membership, electoral processes, non-partisanship and inclusion, with particular attention to gender balance and disability representation. Participants welcomed the initiative as a step towards strengthening civic education and youth participation in democratic processes.
Participants endorsed the charter’s emphasis on non-partisanship but called for stronger safeguards against political interference. They also proposed clearer provisions on leadership tenure, succession planning and electoral dispute resolution to improve transparency and accountability.
Feedback from the consultations will be consolidated into a revised draft for further review before adoption. Once implemented, the charter is expected to formalise Student Parliaments as platforms linked to Parliament and to create a structured pathway for youth engagement in governance.
The parliament of Ghana currently has over 3,000 registered student members across Ghana. It aims to provide students with practical exposure to legislative processes while encouraging debate on issues affecting youth development.
The Department is expected to continue consultations with other stakeholders in the coming weeks, including universities, Members of Parliament and educators.
Participating institutions included All Nations University, Central University, UNIMAC, the University of Ghana, KNUST, UPSA, Pentecost University, Wisconsin International University, Islamic University College, Ghana, and Accra Technical University, as well as past Student Speakers and civil society.
