Stakeholders in Ghana's peace and security sector have called for stronger and more meaningful youth participation in the country's peacebuilding and security processes, stressing that young people must be recognised not only as beneficiaries but as active partners and leaders in shaping Ghana's future.
The call was made at the launch of the Ghana Civil Society Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security, a coalition bringing together more than 30 youth-led and youth-focused civil society organisations.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, Mr Osman Ayariga, the Director for Programmes and Operations, Mr Archiebald Donkoh Jnr, said the safety, protection and development of young people must remain a priority for every nation.
He noted that young people constitute about 38.2 per cent of Ghana's population, making their wellbeing critical to the country's overall development. He stressed that peace should not be understood merely as the absence of war, but should also encompass the peace of mind and security that enable young people to live, work and develop their potential.
Dr. Edward Ampratwum, Programme Specialist and Head of Governance Cluster - UNDP-Ghana, called for greater inclusion of young people in Ghana's peace and security processes. He said sustainable development could not thrive without peace, while lasting peace could not be achieved when young people were excluded. He urged stakeholders to protect civic space for youth peacebuilders, strengthen partnerships among civil society, government and development partners, and move from commitments to concrete implementation. He reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to supporting the National Peace Council, local peace committees and the National Youth Authority to strengthen youth participation and resilience.
The National Coordinator of the coalition, Mr Issah Toha Samsoo, said young people were already contributing significantly to peacebuilding but remained underrepresented, with their initiatives often lacking adequate resources. He called for greater recognition of young people as actors and leaders in peace and security, urging civil society organisations to create meaningful spaces for youth participation and invest in their leadership. He stressed the need to move beyond discussions about young people and instead give them opportunities to influence decisions affecting Ghana's peace, security and democratic development.
Germany's Deputy Head of Development Cooperation, Mr Daniel Bohme, also emphasised the need to provide young people not only with education, training and employment opportunities but also with platforms to participate in shaping the country's future. He said meaningful youth participation was essential to Ghana's development and peacebuilding efforts, noting that the country's National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security was nearing completion. He called for strong partnerships to ensure its effective implementation and said the new coalition could enhance coordination, knowledge-sharing and collective advocacy among youth organisations.
The European Union's Project Manager for Governance and Security, Mr Mohammed Musah, called for stronger coordination among youth organisations, civil society and government to advance Ghana's peace and security agenda. He noted that young people were among those most affected by illicit arms and drug trafficking, violent extremism and crime, but could also be powerful agents of prevention and peace. He stressed the importance of meaningful youth and civil society participation, community oversight and accountable institutions, while urging stakeholders to protect Ghana's civic space and address barriers such as limited funding and restricted access to decision-makers.
