The National Peace Council has urged stronger collaboration among stakeholders to deepen peace education in schools and safeguard Ghana’s stability. Speaking at a media briefing in Accra, the Council’s Director of Capacity Development and Outreach, Janet Sarney-Kuma, said equipping young people with dialogue, tolerance, mutual respect and non-violence is essential to counter emerging threats such as misinformation, cyberbullying, hate speech, intolerance and substance abuse.
Sarney-Kuma explained that preventing conflicts keeps schools open while instilling values of responsible citizenship helps learners become lifelong ambassadors of peace. The National Peace Council School Engagement Programme aims to strengthen public understanding of peace education and foster media collaboration in highlighting young people’s contributions to peace in schools and communities.
“Schools are not only centres of academic learning but also places where character is formed, leadership nurtured and responsible citizenship developed,” she said. “If Ghana is to sustain its hard-earned peace, we must intentionally cultivate the values of dialogue, tolerance, respect and non-violence in our schools and classrooms.”
The Council works 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. The programme has reached schools across all regions, empowering thousands of learners to serve as peace ambassadors in their schools, homes and communities.
Sarney-Kuma stressed that peace education has become increasingly urgent due to young people’s exposure to harmful online content and social vices. “Peace education is not a luxury. It is a necessity. It equips learners with the values and life skills to resolve differences peacefully, appreciate diversity and become responsible citizens,” she stated.
The initiative is yielding positive results, with learners embracing dialogue over violence, promoting mutual respect through peace clubs and demonstrating leadership among peers. The Council called on the Ghana Education Service, parents, teachers, faith-based organisations, traditional authorities, civil society groups, development partners and the private sector to support peace education.
It also appealed to the media to give greater prominence to stories that promote peace and social cohesion. “Conflict often dominates headlines, yet peace stories rarely receive the same attention. We invite you to help change this narrative by highlighting stories of young peace ambassadors in schools and promoting dialogue in communities where understanding is transforming lives,” Sarney-Kuma said.
The Council envisions every school becoming a centre for peace education and every learner a champion of dialogue and national cohesion. Stakeholders were urged to continue working together to build a culture of peace, “one school, one student, one teacher and one community at a time.”
