The National Peace Council (NPC) has called for stronger stakeholder collaboration to deepen peace education in schools and sustain Ghana’s peace. This initiative aims to equip young people with essential values like dialogue, tolerance, mutual respect, and non-violence. The Council believes these skills are critical for addressing emerging societal challenges, including misinformation, cyberbullying, hate speech, intolerance, and substance abuse.
Madam Janet Sarney-Kuma, Director of Capacity Development and Outreach at the NPC, highlighted the importance of this program at a media briefing in Accra. She stated that preventing conflicts helps keep schools open. Equipping learners with values of dialogue and responsible citizenship enables them to become lifelong ambassadors of peace. The program seeks to strengthen public understanding of peace education and collaboration with the media. It also aims to highlight young people’s contributions to peace in schools and communities.
This call comes as Ghana faces increasing exposure to social vices among its youth. The country has seen fluctuations in its Global Peace Index ranking, dropping from 38th to 76th in 2026. This decline underscores the urgent need for proactive measures to maintain national cohesion. The NPC's efforts align with broader national goals to ensure stability and economic progress. A peaceful environment is fundamental for attracting investment and fostering sustainable development.
Madam Sarney-Kuma emphasized that peace education is not a luxury but a necessity. It provides learners with the values and life skills to resolve differences peacefully. It also helps them appreciate diversity and become responsible citizens. The Council works with the Ghana Education Service, school authorities, and other partners. They promote peace education through classroom engagements, peace clubs, civic education, leadership mentoring, and community outreach. The program has reached schools across all regions, empowering thousands of learners.
The NPC has appealed to various stakeholders for support. These include the Ghana Education Service, parents, teachers, faith-based organisations, traditional authorities, civil society organisations, development partners, and the private sector. The Council also urged the media to give greater prominence to stories promoting peace and social cohesion. Madam Sarney-Kuma noted that conflict often dominates headlines, while peace stories rarely receive similar attention. She invited the media to help change this narrative by highlighting young peace ambassadors and promoting dialogue.
The Council aspires to see every school become a center for peace education. It also aims for every learner to become a champion of dialogue and national cohesion. This long-term vision requires sustained commitment and investment from all sectors of society. Continued collaboration will build a culture of peace, one school, one student, one teacher, and one community at a time. This foundational work is crucial for Ghana's future economic stability and social harmony.