The National Peace Council (NPC) has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to deepen peace education in schools and sustain Ghana's peace. The Council made this call at a media briefing in Accra, where they also highlighted the importance of equipping young people with dialogue, tolerance, mutual respect, and non-violence.
The NPC believes that preventing conflicts helps keep schools open, and equipping learners with the values of dialogue and responsible citizenship enables them to become lifelong ambassadors of peace. Director of Capacity Development and Outreach at the NPC, Madam Janet Sarney-Kuma, said that if Ghana is to sustain its hard-earned peace, the values of dialogue, tolerance, respect, and non-violence must be intentionally cultivated in schools and classrooms.
Peace Education as a Necessity
Madam Sarney-Kuma emphasized that peace education is not a luxury, but a necessity. It equips learners with the values and life skills to resolve differences peacefully, appreciate diversity, and become responsible citizens. She noted that the programme has reached schools across all regions and empowered thousands of learners to serve as ambassadors of peace in their schools, homes, and communities.
The NPC has been working with the Ghana Education Service, school authorities, and other partners to promote peace education through classroom engagements, peace clubs, civic education, leadership mentoring, and community outreach. Madam Sarney-Kuma said that the programme has yielded positive results, with learners embracing dialogue rather than violence, promoting mutual respect through peace clubs, and demonstrating leadership among their peers.
The Role of the Media
The NPC also appealed to the media to give greater prominence to stories promoting peace and social cohesion. Madam Sarney-Kuma noted that conflict often dominates headlines, yet peace stories rarely receive the same attention. She invited the media to help change this narrative by highlighting stories of young peace ambassadors in schools and promoting dialogue in communities where understanding is transforming lives.
The NPC aspires to see every school become a centre for peace education and every learner become a champion of dialogue and national cohesion. Madam Sarney-Kuma urged stakeholders to continue working together to build a culture of peace, "one school, one student, one teacher, and one community at a time."
Source: Joy Online
