He said that would enable them participate effectively in the governance system.

Mr. Adenutsi was speaking at a sensitization programme organized by VEREF with support from STAR GHANA at Peki in the South Dayi District to educate women, PWDs and the youths on the need for them to be involved in decision-making and governance processes.

The engagement was also to whip up their interest to contest the forthcoming District Levels Elections. Mr Adenutsi said nations where women, PWDs and youths were given the opportunity to participate in decision-making and leadership roles, development tended to be faster as the society was more inclusive, responsive and democratic.

He noted that, strengthening the rights of women, PWDs and the youths and also addressing other factors that prevented their participation in the governance process was "sine qua non" to achieving equity, gender equality and women empowerment.

Mr Adenutsi further noted that, even though the country was a low middle income country and making progress, accelerated development could not be achieved if a group of people were left behind as it would result in high dependency ratio.

Mr. Gaga Kuma Setriakor, District Director, National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), entreated the youths to debunk the notion of not being old and competent enough to be part of the day-to- day administration of the country.

He said it was time they took up leadership roles as it was the only surest way they could translate their visions into realities.

“If you have a vision today as a youth and you think that you are not old enough to implement that vision , you might as well not implement it or bring it to being if you are old , because the longer you are in the box, the more difficulty it is to break off”, he stated.

Madam Emma Adom, District Director for Social Welfare and Community Development, urged women to discard the thinking that only men had the capacity to play leadership roles. She said such tradition had no place in the world in the 21st century and therefore charged the women to come out to contest in the forthcoming District Levels Elections.