The Ashanti Regional Chapter of the National Peace Council has organised a peace sensitisation workshop for young people and Community Peace Youth Ambassadors as part of efforts to prevent violence and strengthen peaceful coexistence across communities.
The workshop was aimed at empowering young people to take an active role in peacebuilding and conflict prevention, recognising them as key stakeholders in addressing violence and promoting stability within their communities.
Speaking at the event, the Ashanti Regional Chairperson of the National Peace Council, Dr Harriet Takyi, acknowledged that the Council had, over the years, not sufficiently involved young people in its peace campaigns.
She said the Council had now recognised the need to deepen its engagement with the youth, particularly because they constitute a significant proportion of Ghana’s population and have considerable influence on public discourse through technology and social media.
Dr Takyi stressed that sustainable peace could not be achieved without the active participation of young people.
According to her, the involvement of young people in several acts of violence and crime makes it necessary to educate, sensitise and empower them to become advocates for peace rather than participants in conflict.
She further noted that equipping young people with knowledge and skills in peacebuilding could make them less susceptible to manipulation by individuals or groups seeking to incite violence within communities.
The workshop therefore provided an opportunity for participants to discuss ways of promoting tolerance, peaceful dialogue and responsible citizenship, while encouraging young people to use their influence positively.
Some participants also appealed to Ghanaians to prioritise peace and dialogue in resolving disagreements, stressing that sustainable development could only be achieved in communities where peace and stability prevail.
