Social media and political participation among youth in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana

Social media and its role in political participation have gained significant attention, especially among youth in urban Ghana. This study investigates the role of social media in political participation among youth aged 15 to 35 in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana. This study was conducted using a mixed-methods approach with 101 survey respondents and six semi-structured interviews conducted between March and April 2025. The research was done with three objectives which are to examine the association between access to political information and participation, to assess the relationship between social media influence and opinion shifts, and to explore various mechanisms through which social media influences political participation. Survey results indicate that 86% of youths accessed political information via social media, 66% were influenced by social media to participate in political and civic activities, and 58% experienced opinion shifts primarily through WhatsApp (91%) and Facebook (78%). The Chi-square test revealed significant associations that access to information on social media predicts participation, and social media influence is associated with opinion change. Findings from the interviews show awareness of political issues, mobilization, and trust challenges as key mechanisms, with platforms like Twitter and WhatsApp shaping engagement. This study highlights social media’s potential to enhance democratic participation in Ghana. Key words: Social media, political participation, youth.