Address challenges of youth to promote sustainable peace – UNESCO to leaders
UNESCO’s Representative to Ghana, Mr. Edmond Moukala, has highlighted the urgent need to carefully consider the issues confronting young people and provide solutions, particularly through economic empowerment, as a means to promote sustainable peace.
He emphasised the importance of incorporating youth voices in decision-making processes, advocating for their roles not just as voters but as leaders and champions of policies that resonate with their realities.
He called for a united effort to ensure that youth are meaningfully engaged in development across global, regional, national, and community levels.
Mr. Moukala made remarks at the Intergenerational Dialogue among national stakeholders and youth constituencies in Accra on September 14, 2024.
The NCCE, in partnership with UNESCO and the Ghana Commission for UNESCO, organised the Intergenerational Dialogue to provide Ghanaian youth with a platform to propose ways they can influence national policies and engage in civic activities.
Mr. Moukala stated that political, governance, and civic engagement should extend beyond election day.
He stressed that young people must be actively involved in these processes as an ongoing commitment, saying, “Let us channel our collective efforts towards ensuring youth meaningful engagements in all spheres of development at the global, regional, country, and community levels.”
Also sharing her views at the event, a member of the National Commission for Civic Education, Mrs Hajara Rufai Mohammed, urged Ghanaian youth to take an active role in nation-building, emphasising that involving young people in all levels of development and national discussions is crucial for amplifying their voices, influencing policy, and fostering civic participation.
“The Ghanaian youth must be heard and their voices must be captured in our democratic discourse, and as a country, we must continue to nurture and engage our youth with patriotic values to enable them to play active roles in national and democratic development,” she said.
On her part, the Chairperson of the NCCE, Ms. Kathleen Addy and other stakeholders acknowledged the vital role young people play in nation-building and urged them to position themselves as active agents of change.
She called on everyone to support initiatives that foster youth civic engagement and empower young individuals.
Ms. Addy further highlighted several youth-centred programmes initiated by the NCCE, emphasising that these civic initiatives are designed to educate and empower young people for meaningful participation in civic life.