FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MAKE THE YOUTH AN INTEGRAL PART OF PEACE BUILDING AND CONFLICT PREVENTION IN GHANA

On the occasion of this year’s International Youth Day, the members of the 2030 Youth Alliance wishes to congratulate all young people in Ghana and Africa for their positive contribution towards the promotion of peace and security in Ghana and across the continent.

Every year, the 12th of August, is set aside by the United Nations as International Youth Day, in order to recognize the pivotal role of young people and encourage their participation in nation building.

On the 9th of December 2015, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security. This historic document is the first of it kind to acknowledge the positive role of young people in building sustainable peace, and further underscores the need for governments and other stakeholders to support the youth in this role. Subsequently, the UN Security Council Resolution 2282 (2016) further emphasizes that the scale and challenges of building sustainable peace requires partnership among stakeholders, including young people and youth organizations. The African Youth Charter recognizes the important role of the youth in promoting peace and non-violence and the lasting physical and psychological scars that result from involvement in violence, armed conflict and wars.

The National Youth Policy of Ghana also identifies peace and security as essential prerequisites for development, the absence of which threatens good governance and nation building. The National Youth Policy of Ghana further identifies the critical need to promote conflict prevention among the youth as a major stakeholder in peace building and also oblige government in collaboration with other stakeholders to promote active youth participation in conflict prevention, resolution and in peace building. Towards this end, we consider the theme for this year’s celebration dubbed, "Youth Building Peace” as appropriate.

Unfortunately, in Ghana, the potentials of the youth in peace building and conflict prevention has not been fully exploited. For instance, the National Peace Council Act 818 (2011) makes no provision for youth representation and participation in peace building efforts. A recent study conducted by the 2030 Youth Alliance also reveals that young people are still recognized in Ghana as trouble makers; with majority of the respondents pointing to the activities of party vigilante youth groups as one of the greatest threats to the country’s political stability. Consequently, the youth are neither recognized as effective peace agents nor incorporated into both the traditional and formal peace architecture of the country.

Hence, as we mark this special day, 2030 Youth Alliance wishes to call on government, traditional rulers, the peace council and other peace building agencies to streamline youth participation into peace building and conflict prevention processes in Ghana. On the other hand, to curtail the activities of political party youth vigilante groups, we further call on government to create more economic and livelihood opportunities for the youth through skills training while streamlining its social protection policies, such as the youth employment programme to benefit all young people in Ghana, rather than a section of the party youth. Finally, we call on government and the private sector to fully resource the National Youth Authority at the district level to deliver on their mandate to develop a strong and discipline youth imbued with the spirit of Nationalism, self reliance, leadership, civic responsibility and a sense of public service and morality.

ABOUT THE 2030 YOUTH ALLIANCE

The 2030 Youth Alliance is a coalition of youth-led Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working to ensure that African youth drive the implementation of the United Nation`s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Africa. 

The members are made of  Youth Advocates Ghana (YAG), AKO Foundation, Centre for Development and Policy Advocacy (CEDEPA-Ghana), Kairos Ladies Network, Lord Agbavor Foundation, Arrows Communications and Media Consult and Youth AID Initiative Ghana . 

The 2030 Youth Alliance is the convener of the 1st African Youth SDG Summit scheduled to take place from 1-2 November 2017 at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Center, Accra Ghana in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports with support from UNDP Ghana.

Thank you.

Ametepey Emmanuel
Convener, 2030 Youth Alliance

For Further Information, please contact:
Percivals Lord Agbavor Jnr. (+233) 240 818 110 / Alhassan Bonzali (+233) 506 384 692 /
Emmanuel Clifford Gyetuah (+233) 27464 7543
Email: info@youthsdgssummit.org  Web: www.youthsdgssummit.org

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