26 Peace ambassadors trained in New Juaben South Constituency

Sixty young men and women in the New Juaben South Constituency in the Eastern Region have been trained to serve as peace ambassadors in the upcoming December 7 general election.

The trainees are expected to develop their own action plans to propagate peace at gatherings such as churches, communities, markets and lorry parks, among others, within the constituency.

They included representatives from the Anchito Foundation for Education and Self-help, Bibiaa Be Ye Fine Association, New Juaben South Youth Parliament, Divine Mother and Child Foundation, National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), National Youth Authority (NYA) and New Juaben South Municipal Assembly.

The day’s programme was organised by STAR-Ghana Foundation, a civil society organisation (CSO), in collaboration with the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly, with funding from the BOTNAR Foundation.

The event formed part of STAR-Ghana Foundation's three-year Action for Youth Development (AfYD) project aimed at enhancing youth inclusion in governance and improving access to public services in Koforidua.

The project manager in charge of Rights to Services of the STAR-Ghana Foundation, Raymond Danso, said following the significant roles the youth played in communities, especially during elections, it was necessary to select those between 15 and 35, to train them in the rudiments of peacemaking.

That, he said, would empower them to prevail on their peers to be peaceful during the electioneering, and at polling stations to help promote peace and prevent disturbances.

Mr Danso added that apart from the group preaching peace in public places, they could also use their social media platforms to spread the message to their peers and the general public.

He explained that without peace, there could not be development; hence, the need for everyone to get involved.

"The youth cannot be ignored at this crucial election period, and this is why we have roped them in to be peace ambassadors in churches, marketplaces, vintage places in communities, and to also engage their peers on the need for peaceful polls in December,” Mr Danso added.

The project manager further said that the upcoming elections presented a critical opportunity for young people to engage actively and constructively in the democratic process in the country.

Commitment 

A peace ambassador from Srodae, a suburb of Koforidua, Joyce Asante, said that the knowledge gained would enable her to persuade her peers not to involve themselves in any violent act at the polls.

Another peace ambassador from Bonya Nyerede, a community within the constituency, Mutawakilu Mahama, also pledged to work with both the Police and the Electoral Commission (EC) to make the elections in the area a success. 

Writer's email: haruna.wunpini@graphic.com.gh