Volta Regional Peace Council Encourages Sonrise Christian High School Students to Champion Peaceful Co-existence
The Volta Regional Peace Council organized a Peace Education Programme for students of Sonrise Christian High School under the theme “Understanding Conflict and Building Peaceful Co-existence.”
The programme, held on 1st July 2026 at Sonrise Christian High School, formed part of the National Peace Council’s ongoing efforts to promote peace education among young people and equip students with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills required to prevent and manage conflicts peacefully.
The initiative aimed to enhance students’ understanding of conflict as a normal part of human interaction and encourage positive approaches to conflict resolution. It also focused on strengthening communication, negotiation, active listening, and peer mediation skills while promoting mutual respect, tolerance, inclusion, and appreciation of diversity within the school community.
The event was attended by Rev. Seth K. Mawutor, Chairman of the Volta Regional Peace Council; Rev. Courage Godswill, Member of the Volta Regional Peace Council; Dr. David Esinu Yao Normanyo, Regional Executive Secretary of the Volta Regional Peace Council; Mr. Andrew Deku, Assistant Headmaster of Sonrise Christian High School; members of staff; and students of the school.
Addressing the students, Rev. Seth K. Mawutor emphasized that peace is built through the choices individuals make every day. He explained that the National Peace Council’s mandate is to promote dialogue, prevent conflicts, and support the creation of communities where people can live together in harmony.
He noted that peacebuilding begins long before conflicts occur, making peace education one of the Council’s important interventions. Rev. Mawutor expressed concern about increasing incidents of violence in some Senior High Schools and stressed that such situations require the collective attention of students, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders.
He encouraged students not to allow anger, peer pressure, or negative social influences to determine their actions. Instead, he urged them to develop habits of active listening, self-control, and respect for others, emphasizing that a peaceful school environment creates the right conditions for learning, personal development, and future success.
In his address, Dr. David Esinu Yao Normanyo, Regional Executive Secretary of the Volta Regional Peace Council, reminded students that everyone has a role to play in creating and maintaining a peaceful school environment.
He explained that peace is not only the absence of fighting but also the presence of kindness, respect for differences, responsibility, and positive relationships among people. He encouraged students to be mindful of their words, especially during moments of disagreement, noting that many conflicts begin with careless comments, rumours, or misunderstandings that could be resolved through honest communication.
Dr. Normanyo advised students to develop the confidence to apologize when they are wrong, forgive when they are offended, and seek support from teachers, school authorities, or trusted adults whenever conflicts become difficult to manage.
Drawing from the values of the school, he encouraged students to allow integrity, compassion, and respect to guide their interactions with others. He reminded them that true leadership is demonstrated through the ability to unite people, resolve differences peacefully, and inspire others through positive character.
The peace education session provided students with practical knowledge on conflict prevention, peaceful conflict management, communication, empathy, and dialogue. Students were encouraged to become ambassadors of peace by promoting understanding, respect, and unity among their peers.
The programme is expected to strengthen students’ capacity to resolve disagreements peacefully, improve interpersonal relationships, and contribute to building a culture of peace within the school and surrounding communities.
The National Peace Council remains committed to engaging educational institutions across Ghana through peace education programmes aimed at nurturing responsible young citizens who value tolerance, dialogue, respect, and peaceful coexistence.
