By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
Tamale, April 11, GNA – The West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP-Ghana), in collaboration with the Peace Council, has organised a two-day capacity building workshop in Tamale to strengthen inter-party youth dialogue and prevent post-election violence.
The participants, drawn from Inter-Party Youth Dialogue Committees (IPYDCs) of the major political parties, namely, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), were equipped with democratic principles, non-violent communication, and early warning mechanisms to address political tensions.
The participants were also trained to promote intra-party cohesion, build inter-party relationships, and understand the need for them to engage relevant stakeholders in addressing their grievances to ensure sustained peace in their communities.
It aimed at defusing post-election tensions through public sensitisation, the identification and engagement of individuals at risk of inciting violence, and the demonstration of youth leadership in resolving politically motivated disputes in the aftermath of Ghana’s 2024 general elections.
The engagement formed part of the third phase of the “Frontiers of Democratic Culture and Peace in Ghana” project, being implemented by the Northern and Savannah Regional Peace Councils in Damongo, Salaga South, Bimbilla, and Kpandai, with funding support from the STAR Ghana Foundation.
Ms Alice Bokuma Gbevillah, Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor at WANEP-Ghana, said the initiative came at a critical time as Ghana transitioned into the post-election period, where tensions often escalated and risked undermining national peace.
“Though the elections are over, we recognise that post-election grievances and mistrust can spark violence, and our goal is to empower the youth to take proactive steps in dialogue and reconciliation to sustain peace,” she said.
She noted that, despite the youth not being architects of political violence, they were often the protagonists, and the initiative was part of strategic efforts to empower them with tools to deepen their knowledge to lead constructive political engagements and dialogue.
Ms. Gbevillah stressed that young political actors had a vital role to play in shaping the country’s democratic culture and must, therefore, be equipped to respond constructively to political disputes.
Mr Aiden Naah Sabie, Project Coordinator, explained that the training was designed to help these young leaders detect and respond to conflict triggers before they escalate, and to foster collaboration between political party youth wings in promoting peace at the grassroots.
He added that, “through these engagements, we aim to ensure that youth from various political backgrounds work together to defuse tensions, encourage tolerance, and reduce the risk of electoral violence in their communities.”
WANEP-Ghana, since 2012, has been empowering the youth wings of major political parties to promote non-violent campaigns and early conflict warning, while recognising them as key actors in sustaining democracy and reducing political violence, despite often being used as agents rather than instigators.
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