INVESTING IN PEACE: EASTERN REGION EMPOWERS YOUNG MINDS THROUGH INTER-SCHOOL PEACE QUIZ
The Eastern Regional Peace Council (ERPC) has commemorated the 2026 International Day of Peace with a Regional Inter-School Peace Quiz Competition aimed at empowering young people with the knowledge, values and skills needed to promote peace and peaceful coexistence in their schools and communities.
Held under the theme, “Invest in Peace, Everyone, Everywhere, Everyday: Empowering Young Minds to Build a Culture of Peace,” the initiative placed young people at the centre of peace education and provided an innovative platform for students to learn, compete and engage on issues relating to peacebuilding.
The programme was organised in collaboration with Koforidua Technical University (KTU), KTU Radio, Promasidor Ghana and the Ghana Library Authority, with support from the New Juaben North Municipal Education Directorate and participating schools across the Eastern Region.
Building Knowledge for Peace
The competition was designed to enhance students’ understanding of peace, conflict prevention, tolerance, peaceful coexistence, civic responsibility and other principles of peacebuilding.
Beyond testing students’ knowledge, the initiative sought to encourage young people to become active promoters of peace by embracing dialogue, tolerance, responsible citizenship and peaceful approaches to resolving differences.
The Chairman of the Eastern Regional Peace Council, Prof. Mark Boadu, emphasized the importance of investing in young people as critical stakeholders in building and sustaining peace.
He encouraged students to recognise that peacebuilding is not solely the responsibility of institutions, but a shared responsibility requiring the active participation of individuals and communities. He further urged the students to apply the knowledge gained through the competition in their everyday interactions and become ambassadors of peace.
Prof. Boadu also commended the Council and its partners for creating an innovative platform through which peace education could be promoted among young people.
Taking Peace Education into the Digital Space
The competition commenced with online preliminary contests conducted through Kahoot and Zoom, providing an opportunity for schools across the region to participate in a structured and competitive peace education activity.
A total of 64 schools registered for the competition. The first preliminary contest was held on 3 August 2026, with 48 schools participating. Following the first contest, 12 schools were eliminated, leaving 36 schools to proceed to the second preliminary stage.
The second online contest was held on 7 August 2026, after which 12 schools qualified for the semi-final stage.
The use of digital platforms such as Kahoot and Zoom demonstrated how technology can be leveraged to expand the reach of peace education while creating engaging and interactive learning experiences for young people.
From Competition to Collaboration
The semi-finals and finals were held on 25 September 2026 at the Aba Bentil Hall, Koforidua Technical University, as part of the Eastern Region’s International Day of Peace celebration.
The 12 schools that qualified for the semi-finals were:
- Presby Senior High School, Mampong
- Presby Senior High School, Adeiso
- Akwamuman Senior High School
- Anum Presby Senior High School
- Akro Senior High Technical School, Odumase Krobo
- St. Thomas Senior High Technical School
- Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary
- Ofori Panin Senior High School
- Begoro Presby Senior High School
- Nifa Senior High School
- Akim Asafo Senior High School
- St. Dominic Senior High Technical School, Pepease, Kwahu
The students competed on questions covering peace, conflict prevention, tolerance, peaceful coexistence, civic responsibility and other issues relevant to peacebuilding.
At the end of the competition, Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary emerged as the winners, with Nifa Senior High School taking the 1st Runner-up position and Akim Asafo Senior High School emerging as 2nd Runner-up.
Beyond the results, the competition provided students with an opportunity to develop critical thinking, teamwork, healthy competition and respectful interaction with peers from different schools.
Strengthening Partnerships for Youth Peacebuilding
Approximately 150 students, teachers and institutional representatives participated in the International Day of Peace celebration and Regional Inter-School Peace Quiz.
The programme brought together students, teachers, educational authorities, peacebuilding stakeholders, government representatives and invited guests, demonstrating the importance of collaboration in promoting youth participation in peacebuilding.
Koforidua Technical University provided institutional support for the programme, while KTU Radio contributed to media engagement and publicity. Promasidor Ghana and the Ghana Library Authority also supported the successful organisation of the celebration.
The presence of the Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, Dr. George Amo, the Chairman and officials of the National Peace Council, and other stakeholders further underscored the importance of investing in young people as partners in Ghana’s peacebuilding efforts.
Empowering the Next Generation of Peacebuilders
The Regional Inter-School Peace Quiz Competition demonstrated that peace education can go beyond the classroom to create practical opportunities for young people to learn, engage, collaborate and champion peaceful values.
By placing young people at the centre of the International Day of Peace celebration, the Eastern Regional Peace Council reinforced the message that building a culture of peace requires continuous investment in knowledge, attitudes and values in schools, families, communities and society at large.
The initiative also reflects the broader importance of equipping young people to become responsible citizens and active contributors to conflict prevention, social cohesion and peaceful communities.
