NORTHCODE-GHANA Calls on Youth to Lead Peacebuilding Efforts in Savannah Region  

The Executive Director of the Coalition for the Development of Northern Ghana (NORTHCODE-GHANA), Mr. Cletus Zume Zeus, has urged young people in the Savannah Region to take the lead in promoting peace, social cohesion, and stability within their communities.

Describing the youth as the backbone of the nation, Mr. Zeus stressed that their active involvement in peacebuilding is critical to safeguarding peaceful coexistence and driving sustainable development in the region.

He made the call at the launch of the NORTHCODE-GHANA Youth Peace Project, dubbed “Leaders of Today, Not Tomorrow,” held on December 29, 2025, at the Damongo Community Centre. The project is being implemented in partnership with Conciliation Resources UK, with funding support from Global Affairs Canada.

The event brought together a broad range of stakeholders, including youth groups, women and minority groups, traditional and religious leaders, state institutions, security agencies, and development partners.

The initiative is being rolled out under the theme “Strengthening Transnational Youth Peace Leadership Along the Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire Border.” Explaining the rationale behind the project, Mr. Zeus said the Savannah Region was strategically selected due to its vast land size and its international borders with Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.

According to him, the project seeks to equip young people with leadership and practical conflict-prevention skills to counter violent extremism and promote peace, particularly in border and other vulnerable communities. He warned that persistent security challenges in neighbouring countries, including violent extremism and insurgency-related attacks, pose potential spillover risks to Ghana.

Mr. Zeus also raised concerns about illegal mining activities, particularly in parts of the Bole District, describing them as a potential security threat due to the involvement of undocumented foreign nationals. He cautioned that such activities could create fertile ground for criminal networks and instability if left unchecked.

Addressing the youth directly, he urged them to prioritize self-development, integrity, and critical thinking. He warned that politicians, traditional leaders, and other influential actors sometimes exploit young people for selfish interests, leading to conflicts that can escalate into communal or tribal violence. He encouraged the youth to resist manipulation, embrace dialogue, and serve as ambassadors of peace in the region.

Touching on drug abuse, Mr. Zeus described the growing trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs among young people as a serious threat to the future of the Savannah region. He called on the Ghana Police Service to adopt more rehabilitative approaches, noting that well-structured rehabilitation programmes would better reform affected youth and reintegrate them into society.

In his remarks, the West Gonja Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Yakubu Yussif Castro, welcomed the initiative, saying the Youth Peace Project would significantly strengthen peace and resilience in the Savannah Region. He appealed to all Ghanaians to commit themselves to building lasting peace.

Participants at the event expressed appreciation to NORTHCODE-GHANA and its partners for the initiative and pledged their support to ensure its success. Two participants, Abdulai Razak and Yussif Karim, described the project as timely, noting that it would equip young people with the skills needed to promote and protect peace for growth and development.

Officials from NORTHCODE-GHANA also briefed participants on the project’s implementation strategies, timelines, and expected outcomes. The Youth Peace Project is scheduled to commence in January 2026.

 

Source: ghanawatchonline.com /Adam Salifu