Youth-led action critical for peace in 2020 election

A youth development based civil society organisation, the Youth Empowerment Synergy (YES-Ghana), has called on policy makers and the government to make young people central to national efforts towards achieving peace in the 2020 general election and beyond.

In a message on International Day of Peace, which fell on September 21, YES said peace was a crucial ingredient to development and with the youth being a large segment of society, it was apt for them to become the main drivers of peace in society.

“Our peace regime has become a shining light within the sub-region and globally recognised as having an all-hands-on-deck approach in ensuring and maintaining the nation’s peace.
We want Ghanaians to work together once again to consolidate our peace by fostering togetherness even in the face of divergent views and provocation. We must fight for peace rather than fight ourselves as we are a people with a common destiny”, the statement said.

YPA

Since 2008, YES-Ghana had been implementing the Youth Peace Ambassadors, a project meant to support youth-led action for peace in major conflict flashpoints across the country

The YPA, YES-Ghana said, had deepened youth engagement and leadership in peace building and conflict resolution.

“It is put the youth at the core of in peace building and conflict transformation in various regions across the country through voluntary participation, collaboration and networking. It is in line with SDG Goal 16 of promoting peace, justice and strong institutions, and is also in line with our corporate commitment of amplifying the voices of the youth in the country’s peace building architecture”, the statement added.

Capacity building

It said the YPA was currently supporting young activists in the five Northern regions by building their capacity and improving their skills on the need to collaborate and facilitate community cohesion in preventing conflict and election related violence .

“As part of activities under the project, a youth forum will be held at the end of September in each of the participating regions to bring together over 200 youth groups and key stakeholders under one roof to learn and share ideas about the peace architecture and how they can use their voices for promoting peace during the 2020 election”, the statement said.