AFES-Ghana is celebrating a defining moment in its youth advocacy work, as the Koforidua Youth Manifesto (KYM) — a landmark product of the KOFKRO Project — has officially been integrated into the New Juaben South Municipal Medium-Term Development Plan. The milestone marks a powerful validation of what collaborative, youth-led advocacy can achieve: policies that genuinely reflect the aspirations and priorities of young people.
The Koforidua Youth Manifesto emerged from months of grassroots engagement, bringing together thousands of young people across the municipality to articulate their vision for community development. Its formal adoption into the Municipal Assembly’s planning framework ensures that youth voices are no longer just heard, but embedded into the policies and budgets that shape their futures.
A New Role in Accountability
Building on this success, AFES-Ghana has been appointed to the Municipal Monitoring and Evaluation Team — a recognition of the organization’s credibility and its sustained commitment to inclusive development. This appointment expands AFES-Ghana’s mandate beyond advocacy into direct oversight, positioning the organization to help track progress, promote transparency, and ensure that government commitments are matched by measurable, on-the-ground impact.
Witnessing Development Commitments Come to Life
In line with this new role, AFES-Ghana joined the Municipal Assembly and other key stakeholders to commission a series of completed infrastructure projects that showcase what inclusive planning can deliver:
- New classroom blocks, expanding access to quality learning spaces for students in the municipality.
- A borehole facility at the Fire Service Department, improving water access for emergency service operations.
- The redeveloped Zongo Community Market, revitalizing a vital economic hub for traders and residents alike.
These projects stand as tangible proof that when citizens are engaged early and meaningfully in the planning process, development outcomes become more responsive to real community needs.
Looking Ahead
For AFES-Ghana, this moment is both a milestone and a motivation. The organization remains committed to empowering communities, amplifying youth voices, and driving sustainable local development across Ghana. The KOFKRO Project has shown that when young people are given a genuine seat at the table, the results extend far beyond documents and declarations — they translate into classrooms, clean water, and thriving markets.
At AFES-Ghana, we are not just envisioning change. Together with the communities we serve, we are helping make it happen.
