Demand Real Power Across W/Africa
Monrovia, Liberia – A bold call for genuine youth inclusion reverberated through the hall on Friday, November 21, 2025 in Ganta, Nimba County, as the 7th Annual Youth Leadership Conference, hosted by the Youth Network for Positive Change (YNPC), witnessed the induction of the new Chairperson of the West African Young Parliamentary Network.
Speaking at the conference, Dr. Leo E. Tiah, Secretary-General of the West Africa Young Parliamentarians Network (WAYPA), set the tone with an electrifying call to governments, political parties, ECOWAS, and the African Union. He argued that Africa’s youth, long described as “leaders of the future”, must now be recognized as leaders of the present.
He stated that even though 60% of people in West Africa are under 25, young people are still excluded from making important decisions. He argues that if the future is now, then young people will be the leaders of today and the designers of the transformation we want to see tomorrow.
“We don’t want a seat merely to say a young person is present,” he said, emphasizing that youth engagement must be meaningful rather than symbolic. Our voices need to be heard.
F. Alphonso Y. Belleh, Liberia’s Acting Deputy Minister for Youth Development, reiterated the government’s dedication to WAYPA and linked its objectives with President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda.
He pointed out that young people are not the future of development, but rather its current force, and that the government is dedicated to increasing youth leadership opportunities, capacity building, and leadership.
Speaking as well, UNFPA Resident Representative Dr. Mady Biaye urged young lawmakers to make sure that youth-focused policies get “from paper to practice,” supported by robust legislation and reasonable budgetary allotments.
The network was launched by Ambassador Ethel Davis, who spoke on behalf of Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow-Nyanti and described it as a crucial platform for transformative youth leadership.
“It symbolizes our belief that the future of this region depends on how boldly we empower our young people. Inclusive leadership is not optional, it is a necessity,” Amb. Davis explained.
The newly inducted Chairperson of WAYPA, Abdoulie Njai of The Gambia, said the movement seeks to end the chronic underrepresentation of youth in African governance structures. Njai noted that young Africans are not present at the tables where their futures are discussed, although making up more than 60% of the population.
However, the recently indicted Chairperson added that the goal of WAYPA is not rebellion and advocated for a new intergenerational agreement.
Reported by: Prince Saah
