The participants in a group photo
A programme to equip youth leaders with skills and knowledge for dispute prevention and resolution to ensure peaceful co-existence and sustainable development is beginning to yield results after three months of implementation.
A feedback session to assess the impact of the ‘Effective Peace Building for Sustainable Development in Ghana’ programme held in Accra showed the significant contribution of the youth leaders to dispute prevention in their various communities.
The session was organised by Prof. Enyonam C. Kudonoo, lecturer at the Business Administration Department of Ashesi University, as a sequel to the earlier training sponsored by Ashesi University as part of its corporate social responsibility.
The participants from youth organizations, churches, mosques, and educational institutions, all shared positive feedback on the impact of the programme in their lives and communities.
Professor Kudonoo said the objective of the feedback session is to see how the participants are applying the knowledge they acquired during the workshop and, “if there is anything we need to straighten up, we will correct or re-equip them to go back with their skills sharpened to perform.”
Prof. Kudonoo said the programme is seeking to minimize the influence and wrong use of the youth to create troubles in chieftaincy and politics and to build a cadre of peacebuilders and mediators across the country.
Sharing their testimonies, the President of the Association of Youth and Young Adult Development (AYYAD), Habibu Salisu said the training built his capacity in effective dialogue and consensus-building for dispute prevention.
“After going through the training, I organised youth meetings and let them understand the impact of peace in development and the disadvantages of violence in the community,” he said.
“I want to thank the Ashesi University and Professor Kudonoo for imparting this knowledge to us.
Hafsa Sibba, a student of the Accra Technical University said, “I learnt a lot on how to deal with difficult people by trying to understand and listen to other parties in solving disputes.
Because of the training I received, I am now a better communicator.”
Prof. Kudonoo, will be hosting a similar session for Queenmothers and they will be going through court-connected Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) so they can practice mediation in their communities.
“We will also take them through how to start and manage a small mediation centre,” Prof. Kudonoo added.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri