Wa, Update

Fresh off of the Easter break and activity in the Upper West region has been steadily buzzing as we've hit the middle of the biometric voter registration period (three more weeks to go!). Our YA Program Manager (PM) in Wa, Mr. Peter Tanga, has been laying the groundwork in these early stages of the organizational campaign to engage street youth in participating peacefully in Ghana's 2012 election.

Just before the holiday the Upper West office organized a one hour, live radio discussion program for the street youth leaders to sensitize and encourage their colleagues to participate in the ongoing biometric registration and abstain from violent acts. Panelists included three street youth leaders and a representative from the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE).

These programs have been having the desired effect as local visits by the YA Director and Ag. PM to four registration centers revealed no record of incidences or disruptive behaviour by street youth. According to the registration officials the youth are turning out in their numbers to register.

This news is certainly a credit to the street youth leaders whom the YA team has also been regularly monitoring to assess progress, determine challenges and recognize opportunities of the campaign. The visits have revealed that as of now all 20 leaders are fully registered and continue to succeed in getting many of their colleagues to follow suit. "The leaders have (even) gone beyond sensitizing their colleagues to their communities," reflects YA PM Peter Tanga.

In the coming weeks YA will continue to monitor activities not only at the registration centers but within the community and amongst the street youth and their leaders to ensure maximum efficacy and prospective voter turnout. The next step in the education campaign is to support the leaders in organizing an information forum at the bus terminal (where most of the street youth of voting age work) to increase communication efforts linked to their peaceful and active participation.

Keep it up team! We can't wait to follow-up with more of your progress in the region :)