Mr Sulemana Mumuni, the Executive Director of Youth Placement for Employability Solutions (Y-PES Ghana), has advised young people to reduce their over-reliance on politicians for their needs, as that is a major setback to self-driven development initiatives.
He said excessive dependence on politicians could distract young people from their life objectives and stressed that politicians were primarily interested in votes rather than the long-term welfare of communities and individuals.
Mr Mumuni gave the advice at the Busa community in the Wa Municipality during the 2025 edition of the Busa Youth Homecoming event, on the theme: “Eradication of Poverty through Education: The Role of Stakeholders.”
The event brought together traditional leaders from the Busa and Manwe Traditional Areas, youth and other stakeholders to deliberate on the development of education in the area.
Mr Mumuni observed that rural youth had “wielded too much power and influence” to politicians to the extent that they believed nothing could happen without political actors’ involvement.
He cited, for instance, that the absence of politicians at the event had resulted in subdued enthusiasm compared to previous years when politicians participated in it.
“If we had seen the vehicles of politicians here, people would have been jubilating and shouting by now.
“But we have our traditional leaders here, and the euphoria you would have used to welcome the politicians is not seen”, the Y-PES Ghana Executive Director indicated.
Mr Mumuni urged the youth to revere and support traditional authorities and community leaders who were readily available to address the communities’ challenges, rather than chasing money and political influence.
On development in Busa, Mr Mumuni described the community as having great development potential, but lamented the attitude of some natives investing their resources outside the community.
He said many people from Busa had built houses and established businesses in urban areas such as Wa, leaving little visible development in their own community, sometimes out of fear of witchcraft.
“If you are afraid to build in your own community because you are afraid that they will kill you, why should someone from elsewhere come and invest here?” he questioned.
On education, Mr Mumuni stressed that it remained the most effective tool for reducing poverty and transforming communities but expressed concern about the lack of youth involvement in supporting educational development in Busa.
He encouraged the youth to take ownership of their development and play active roles in shaping the future of their community through education, volunteerism and collective responsibility.
In a message on her behalf, Madam Alice Ellen Abeere-Inga, the Upper West Regional Director of Education, emphasised that poverty was the major challenge of many people, but added that education was the only solution to that challenge.
She assured the people of her commitment to implementing measures, including the construction of teachers’ accommodation at Busa, to help improve education in the community.
The youth of the Busa community honoured Mr Sulemana Mumuni, a former Director of Operations at the National Youth Authority, for his contributions to youth development in Ghana, the Upper West Region, and the Busa community.
