Parliament engages stakeholders on proposed Student Parliament Charter

The Parliament of Ghana, through its Department of Public Engagement, has initiated stakeholder consultations on a proposed Student Parliament Charter aimed at providing a formal framework to guide engagement with student parliamentary groups across tertiary institutions affiliated with Parliament.

At the consultation forum, the Director of Public Engagement at Parliament, Supt. (Rtd.) Effia Tenge, explained that the proposed charter is designed to establish a structured, inclusive, and non-partisan platform where students can freely express, debate, and refine ideas on governance and national development.

She emphasised that the initiative represents an important step toward deepening youth participation in democratic processes and urged students to actively contribute to shaping the final document.

“This is an opportunity for students to have a meaningful voice in governance, leadership, and national development,” she noted.

The consultations focused on several key governance areas, including institutional structure, membership criteria, electoral processes, and safeguards to ensure non-partisanship and inclusivity. Special attention was also given to ensuring gender balance and the meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities within student parliamentary structures.

Participants at the forum broadly welcomed the initiative, describing it as a progressive step that could strengthen civic education and promote active youth involvement in democratic governance.

While endorsing the charter’s emphasis on non-partisanship, stakeholders also raised concerns about the need for stronger safeguards to prevent political interference in student parliamentary activities. They argued that clearer rules would help preserve the credibility and independence of the platform.

Additional proposals from participants included the introduction of well-defined provisions on leadership tenure, structured succession planning, and transparent electoral dispute resolution mechanisms to enhance accountability and institutional stability.

Feedback gathered from the consultations will be compiled into a revised draft charter, which will undergo further review before final adoption. Once approved, the charter is expected to formally integrate Student Parliaments into Parliament’s public engagement framework and create a structured pathway for sustained youth participation in governance.

Currently, the Student Parliament initiative under the Parliament of Ghana has over 3,000 registered student members across the country. The programme is designed to give students practical exposure to legislative processes while encouraging informed debate on issues affecting youth and national development.

The Department of Public Engagement is expected to continue broader consultations in the coming weeks, engaging additional stakeholders including universities, Members of Parliament, and education sector experts.

Institutions represented at the forum included All Nations University, Central University, University of Media Arts and Communication, University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Professional Studies, Accra, Pentecost University, Wisconsin International University College Ghana, Islamic University College Ghana, and Accra Technical University, alongside former Student Speakers and civil society representatives.