National Peace Council Launches Initiative to Engage Youth in Conflict Prevention
On 2nd March 2026, the Youth Peace Ambassadors Programme 2026 was officially launched under the theme: “Dialoguing with the Youth in ‘Hotspots’ on Conflict Prevention.” The “Hotspots” Communities leaders in Ayawaso East and Gushegu (Kpatinga) will be equipped to champion peace and early conflict prevention. By applying the global expertise of the Dallaire Institute, specifically their work on the Vancouver Principles, we are ensuring our youth are protected and empowered to lead. Peace begins with dialogue.
Delivering his address, the Deputy Minister for the Interior, Hon. Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, called on young people to take ownership of Ghana’s peace and future and also called on young leaders to:
- Build bridges, not barricades
- Foster understanding, not division
- Turn anger into action, and fear into leadership
- Create the future we all seek
He further assured participants of government’s partnership and support: “The Ministry of the Interior stands with you, not to control, but to collaborate, Not to silence, but to amplify. Now, let us begin not as officials and participants, but as partners in peace.”
His message underscored a powerful shift, from control to collaboration, from reaction to prevention, and from exclusion to youth-led engagement.
Arsene Tshidimu, Project Director for the Promotion of the Vancouver Principles in Sub-Saharan Africa in his keynote address, emphasized that peacebuilding must evolve beyond traditional reactive mechanisms. He noted that early signs of conflict often emerge where young people feel unheard, marginalized, or frustrated and that empowering youth is essential to sustainable national stability.
Through the partnership between the National Peace Council and the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security, participants will be equipped with practical skills in:
- Conflict analysis
- Mediation and emotional intelligence
- Child and youth protection
- Early warning to early action systems
- Understanding and applying the Vancouver Principles
Over the next four days, these young leaders will not merely participate, they will emerge as Youth Peace Ambassadors, prepared to champion peaceful coexistence and conflict-sensitive approaches within their communities.
