As an independent statutory national institution established by The National Peace Council Act, 2011 (Act 818) of the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, the Regional Peace Council has among its mandates to initiate and support training and capacity building programmes for relevant stakeholders in the region aimed at discharging the main objective of building sustainable peace in the Country. It is against this background that the National Peace Council in Ashanti Region held a Peace Education program for Students in Al-Azahriya Islamic Junior High School on the 8th June, 2022.

The Initiative was aimed at establishing Peace Ambassadors Club in the Junior High Schools to educate and equip the youth with the knowledge and skills on non-violent approach and mechanisms in resolving their differences. It also sorts to educate the youth on the various security tips on counter-terrorism.

PURPOSE & OBJECTIVES:

The main objectives and purpose of the Program was to achieve among the following:

  • To help students discover (use: find out) how mankind can coexist peacefully through the original state of all creation.
  • Examine how each member of society can create a harmonious society when each member of the society recognizes their own “value” and “influence” and fulfills their “role”.
  • To equip students with non-violent methods of reacting to and resolving differences
  • To educate students on the Security tip’s on Counter terrorism
  • To a build a pool of Early Warning Informants;

 

OVERVIEW OF PARTICIPANTS

Participants who attended the program included Staff of Ashanti Regional Peace Council (ARPC), Headmaster and Teachers of Al-Azahriya Islamic Junior High School at Old Tafo. The participants were students from the J.H.S form one (1), two (2) and three (3)

 

Participants who attended the program
Male Female Total
AL-Azahriya Islamic Junior High School

 

 300 200 500
Total      

 

METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

The methodology used during this program included education and sensitization by facilitator,  Presentations and open discussions in order to maximise participation, interactions and sharing of ideas by participants. Keynote presentations were made by the facilitator during the education section, which was followed by in-depth discussions and contributions from participants.

The modules of the education also ensure its coordinating mechanisms fit into the standards of education in Ashanti Region and the values of the Al-Azahriya Islamic Junior High School..

 

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES

The Peace Education program commenced with an opening ceremony which comprised of arrival and opening prayer and the introduction of facilitators and dignitaries. This was followed with the purpose and objectives of the program.

A presentation on preserving the created for peaceful coexistence and security tip’s on Counter terrorism was given by the facilitator Rev. Emmanuel Badu Amoah (Regional Executive secretary). This was supported with audio-visuals (dinner for two video) to enhance the understanding of participants on conflict and peacebuilding.

Throughout the presentation, the facilitator laid emphases on the early warning signs and using nonviolence mechanisms as the best approach in addressing differences and a tool for conflict prevention. In addition he emphasized on the fact that Peaceful co-existence is creation’s realities (reality) but harmonized and balanced society must be supported through human effort.

The participants showed great interest and asked a lot of questions to boost their understanding on the key concepts. The participants were well educated on the counter terrorism security tip’s and the specific guidelines and appropriate measures to undertake to either provide early warning information to authorities on suspicious acts and threat of terrorism or mitigate the effects of a possible encounter.  He further advised the participants not to be misled into being actors of violence in their societies but rather pursue cordial relations with everyone and be good ambassadors of peace.

 

LESSONS LEARNT & CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED

LESSONS LEARNT:

  • Peaceful co-existence is creation’s realities (reality) but harmonized and balanced society must be supported through human effort.
  • Nature’s diversity, harmony, and coexistence are not part of nature, but are key mechanisms that have kept life for billions of years.
  • In order to achieve sustainable peace and development, we need to learn the value of nature’s diversity, harmony, and coexistence.
  • We cannot live peacefully by ourselves, but to cultivate as “peace messengers” who will end conflict and spread a culture of peace around the world.
  • Each member of society can create a harmonious society when each member of the society recognizes their own “value” and “influence” and fulfills their “role. 

CHALLENGE:

One major challenge encountered during the program was non availability of resources to provide refreshment (water and snack) for the participants.

OPPORTUNITY

The headmaster and teachers in Al-Azahriya Islamic Junior High School have expressed interest in our quest to establish Peace Club for the Junior High School (J.H.S) to train the young ones to become Peace Ambassadors for the School and in their community at large.

 

CONCLUSION

The Peace Education program at Al-Azahriya Islamic Junior High School was successfully carried out and well-patronized. Participants were extremely happy about the program and enthusiastically participated. Many of the students expressed their interest and commitment to be Members of the Peace Club when it becomes established in their school.