Youth, Democracy, and Civic Engagement: Examining Political Participation among Senior High School Students in Cape Coast, Ghana

Abstract

This study examined youth, democracy, and civic engagement by exploring political participation among senior high school students in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey design and employed a stratified sampling technique to select 400 respondents from selected senior high schools within the metropolis. Data was collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including means and standard deviations, as well as inferential statistics through an independent samples t-test. The findings revealed that students predominantly understood political participation in terms of voting, political campaigning, and adherence to laws and civic responsibilities. Respondents further identified several benefits of political participation, including the promotion of democratic governance and democratic values, increased awareness of civic rights and responsibilities, opportunities for expressing societal needs and preferences, and enhanced understanding of electoral and parliamentary processes. The study additionally established that no statistically significant gender differences existed in students’ understanding of political participation. The study concludes that political participation remains essential for strengthening democratic culture and civic consciousness among Ghanaian youth. The study therefore recommends intensified civic education, democratic sensitization, and curriculum-based interventions aimed at promoting active political participation and civic engagement among students.