Workshop on action plan for youth, peace, security ends in Accra

The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, in collaboration with the National Youth Employment Agency, has held a dissemination workshop for the development of an action plan on youth, peace and security in the country.

It formed part of measures for the development of a National Action Plan (NAP) on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS).

The participants were expected to draw a roadmap on timelines, resources and strategic actions towards the realisation of the plan.

They also discussed how to rally resources necessary for the successful implementation of NAP and outlined the roles of each stakeholder in the development process as well as broad-based participation in youth, peace and security efforts.  

The workshop was supported by GIZ, a German cooperation agency, the ECOWAS Peace and Security Architecture and Operations (EPSAO) project, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

It was a follow-up to an inaugural retreat held by the Technical Working Group on YPS in Koforidua early September this year, to inform key stakeholders and raise awareness of the National Action Plan (NAP) development process.

The plan is part of Ghana’s broader commitment to United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSC) 2250, which emphasises the need for meaningful youth engagement in peace and security initiatives. 

Significance

The Deputy Commandant of KAIPTC, Air Commodore David Akrong, said the YPS agenda was central not only to the stability and development of the country, but also for the broader peace and security dynamics across Africa.

He said young people were not merely beneficiaries of peace, but also agents of change, drivers of innovation and active participants in peacebuilding processes.

The Deputy Commandant added that the development of NAP was a critical mechanism that provided a framework to empower the youth, promote inclusivity and also ensure their involvement in decision-making.

“Let us remain guided by the principles of inclusivity, collaboration and commitment. Let us remember that this NAP is not just a document, it is a roadmap for action, a blueprint for sustainable peace, and a testament to our collective responsibility to support and empower the youth of this nation,” Air Commodore Akrong added.

Security response

The Deputy Director of National Counter Terrorism at the National Security Ministry, Daniel Bonsu, said that security challenges in the ECOWAS sub-region called for an immediate youth-led response.

“Within our own country, we have seen growing demand for accountability, transparency and active youth participation,” he said.

Mr Bonsu, therefore, urged the youth to take leading roles in the conversation on peacebuilding and shaping responses. 

Collaboration

The Head of Components at GIZ, Teresa Kraft, said the German government and the EU were looking forward to continuing and amplifying their collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission and partners in the next project phase.

She described the YPS agenda as an “ambitious project” which would empower the youth to take up responsibility in promoting peace and security in the country.

For her part,  the Country Representative of UNFPA, Adjoa Nyanteng Yenyi, expressed the commitment of her outfit to supporting the government and its partners in facilitating an open and transparent process.

She said the success of NAP depended on collaboration and the collective responsibility of all stakeholders.