Dignitaries at the launch of Ghana Civil Society Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security
Dr. Edward Ampratwum, Programme Specialist and Head Governance Cluster
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has called for greater inclusion of young people in the country’s peace and security processes.
Speaking at the launch of the Ghana Civil Society Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security, he said sustainable development cannot thrive without peace, while peace cannot be sustained when young people are excluded.
He urged stakeholders to protect civic space for youth peace builders, institutionalise partnerships among civil society, government and development partners, and move from commitments to implementation.
He said UNDP remains committed to supporting the National Peace Council, local peace committees and the National Youth Authority to strengthen youth participation and resilience.
National Coordinator of the Ghana Civil Society Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security, IssahTohaSamsoo, called for greater recognition of young people as actors and leaders in the country’s peace and security efforts. Speaking at the launch of the coalition, he said young people are already contributing to peace building but remain underrepresented, while their initiatives are often under-resourced.
Mr.Samsoo said civil society organisations have a critical role in creating spaces for meaningful youth participation and investing in their leadership. He stressed the need to move beyond simply discussing youth issues and instead work with young people by giving them opportunities to influence decisions on Ghana’s peace, security and democratic development.
Germany’s Deputy Head of Development Cooperation, Daniel Bohme, urged the government to ensure that young people are not only provided with education, training and jobs, but are also given opportunities to participate in shaping the country’s future.
He said meaningful youth participation is essential to Ghana’s development and peacebuilding efforts.
Mr. Bohme noted that Ghana’s National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security is nearing completion, and stressed the need for strong partnerships to ensure effective implementation. He said the new coalition, bringing together more than 30 youth-led and youth-based civil society organisations, could strengthen coordination, knowledge-sharing and collective advocacy while ensuring young people have a meaningful influence on the peace and security agenda.
The European Union’s Project Manager for Governance and Security, Mohammed Musah, also called for stronger coordination among youth organisations, civil society and government to advance Ghana’s peace and security agenda.
He said young people are often among those most affected by illicit arms and drug trafficking, violent extremism and crime, but are also powerful agents of prevention and peace.
Mr.Musah said meaningful participation of young people and civil society, community oversight and accountable institutions are essential to sustainable peace and security programming.
He also highlighted the importance of protecting Ghana’s civic space, noting that limited funding, restricted access to decision-makers and occasional hostility can put pressure on organisations working on human rights and accountability.