March 24, 2026 In Newsroom By WACSI
Ghanaian Youth Called to Lead Change at Maiden Shifting the Power Debate
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[Accra, Ghana, 9 March 2026] —”Ghanaian youth are not just the future of development, they are already shaping it,” Dr. Nana Asantewa Afadzinu, Executive Director of the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), said at the finale of the maiden Ghana Inter-University Shifting the Power Debate held on 2 and 3 March in Accra.
Dr. Afadzinu said the debates showcased young people questioning entrenched systems and challenging assumptions.
“On March 2, we witnessed our youth step forward with courage, intellect, and conviction. They did more than debate. They demonstrated that Shifting the Power is not just an idea, but a practice that begins with them,” she said.
Dr. Nana Asantewa Afadzinu, Executive Director of the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)
She urged participants to see themselves as active drivers of change rather than passive observers.
“Our debaters have asked hard questions: who sets Ghana’s development agenda, who controls resources, and whose voices are legitimised. Our communities do not lack capacity. What they need is trust, access, and the authority to shape the decisions that affect their lives,” Dr. Afadzinu noted.
Dr. Afadzinu emphasised that shifting the Power means moving from tokenism to genuine influence and from dependency to dignity.
“Development works best when it is led, designed, and owned by those it is meant to serve,” she said, praising the intellectual rigour and leadership of all participating universities.
Dr. Afadzinu
Addressing the finalists, she reminded them that the true victory lay not in the trophy but in awakening minds. “It is youth who understand power, challenge inequity, and are ready to shape development, governance, and philanthropy in Ghana,” she said.
She encouraged them to debate with integrity, speak confidently, and lead courageously. “Stand firm in your arguments. Speak with integrity. Debate with respect. Lead with courage,” she added.
Dr. Afadzinu appreciated the support of partners Comic Relief and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO, for initiatives that empower young leaders and amplify youth voices in development.
She concluded with a call to action: “The power is here. The ideas are here. The leadership is here,” framing the debate as a platform for young Ghanaians to step into leadership, challenge entrenched systems, and propose solutions that reflect local realities.
Dr. Afadzinu is awarding a debater
The two-day competition, which brought together nearly 100 students from the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ashesi University, and the University for Development Studies, ended with the University of Ghana emerging as national champions.
The final motion, on whether international partners should prioritise unrestricted support for local actors, sparked intense exchanges that highlighted participants’ ability to defend local agency, interrogate development systems, and propose innovative solutions.
Dr. Afadzinu said the debate reflected WACSI’s broader vision of empowering young leaders to influence policy and development.
“This initiative shows that Ghanaian youth are not passive observers. They are capable of shaping development models, strengthening civic engagement, and ensuring local voices are central to decision-making.
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