The youth would make a minimum representation of 45 per cent minority and 55 per cent majority at the Assembly and would adopt the rules, procedures and formalities of the national Parliament, but would have its own peculiar model of Standing Orders.

The youth parliamentarians were drawn from various youth groups in the Ayawaso West Constituency and were elected into office to serve one year term after which they could be re-elected based on their performance.   They include assembly members aged between 18 to 35 years.

The inauguration, which was on the theme: "Peaceful Election; The Role of the Youth," sought to identify and bring on board representatives of all youth groups within the Municipality to participate in the consensus-building exercise.

The novel concept, which is a miniature of the national Parliament is being introduced in all the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) by the National Youth Authority.

Madam Sandra Owusu Ahinkora, the Municipal Chief Executive, said the youth were the engine of national development and the hope of future progress of any nation.

She said the youth are the most endangered species and that the Youth Parliament, as part of its functions would carry out activities to educate their peers on the dangers of election violence and the need for peaceful elections.

"As young people, we must remember that posterity will never forgive us if we allow ourselves to be agents of destruction," she said, and advised the youth to embrace the values of discipline, self-respect and support the Government to achieve sustainable development.

A communique issued by the Youth Parliament after a session stated that they (youth) would not avail themselves or accept offers from "big men" to participate in electoral violence in any form and that the "big men" should not make advances or court any youth into electoral violence or confusion.

Mr Martinson Yeboah, the Majority Leader of the Youth Parliament of the Ayawaso West Assembly, commended the National Youth Authority for pioneering the concept, which, he said, was long overdue for young people to participate in the decision-making process.

He said the move was one of the surest ways of igniting the interest of the youth in the democratic governance of the country, which would translate into development.