Youth Must Lead Peace And Security Agenda-Ghana CSO Coalition

Story by Fada Amakye

National Coordinator of the Ghana Civil Society Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security, Issah Toha Shamsoo, says young people must not only be included in conversations on peace and security but must be recognized as actors, leaders and partners in shaping Ghana’s future.

He was speaking at the official launch and knowledge exchange forum of the Ghana Civil Society Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security in Accra.

Mr. Shamsoo welcomed partners including the EPSAO programme through GIZ, UNDP, UNFPA, the National Youth Authority and the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, for supporting the forum.

He also commended Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who travelled from across the country to attend the event, saying they represent groups working daily with limited resources to build peace, strengthen communities, promote inclusion and advance youth empowerment.

He said the gathering reflects the important role civil society plays in strengthening democracy, protecting human rights and building peaceful and inclusive communities.

“We are not here simply to launch another civil society platform. We are here to ask ourselves how we can work better to ensure that young people are not simply included in conversations about peace and security, but are recognized and supported as actors, leaders and partners,” he said.

Mr. Shamsoo noted that although young people form a significant part of Ghana’s population and are already contributing to peacebuilding, their voices remain underrepresented, their initiatives under-resourced and opportunities for meaningful participation limited.

He stressed the need to go beyond talking about young people to creating spaces with them, investing in their leadership and sharing decision-making power with them.

He said many CSOs are already doing important work on youth participation, peacebuilding, conflict prevention, human rights and social cohesion, but the work often happens in silos and is not acknowledged.

Imagine what becomes possible when we join hands together, learn from one another, coordinate our advocacy and work towards shared objectives. That is the opportunity this coalition presents,” he added.

Mr. Shamsoo said the launch is timely as Ghana is at an advanced stage of developing its first National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security, and called on civil society to work together to strengthen collective contribution to the agenda.