Dr Harriet Takyi, the Ashanti Regional Chairperson of the National Peace Council, gave the advice at a training workshop for Youth Peace Ambassadors at Mankranso in the Ahafo Ano South West District.
She said while young people were often not the originators of disputes, they frequently became the visible actors in chieftaincy clashes, political disturbances and other forms of intolerance, often manipulated by influential figures pursuing their own interests.
“It is high time that young people realise their strength and refuse to be agents of violence and destruction,” she stated.
She urged the youth to see themselves as custodians of harmony and stability within their communities.
The workshop, organised by the National Peace Council in line with its mandate, formed part of efforts to build local capacity for conflict prevention and resolution.
It aimed to equip young leaders with practical skills in peacebuilding, mediation, leadership, and community engagement.
The Chairperson observed that divisions along political, ethnic and religious lines, as well as the growing spread of misinformation, continued to threaten unity and national cohesion.
In such circumstances, empowering the youth to identify early warning signs of conflict and intervene constructively was critical to preventing escalation, she said.
Participants are expected to promote peaceful coexistence in their schools and communities, counter hate speech and misinformation, facilitate dialogue among diverse groups, and mediate tensions when they arise.
Dr Takyi emphasised that sustaining peace required deliberate investment in young people, describing them as key stakeholders in safeguarding the country’s democratic and social stability.
She noted that the future of peace belonged to those who built it, encouraging the youth to take the training seriously and return to their communities as advocates of non-violence and constructive engagement.
GNA
