Sophia Kamasa, a 14-year-old final-year student at New Ayoma M/A JHS in the Jasikan District, Oti Region, assumed the role of Board Chair of the National Peace Council (NPC) on Thursday, October 10.
The move is part of the Council’s efforts to promote peace before, during, and after the 2024 general elections.
Ms. Kamasa, a mentee of Plan International Ghana’s “She Leads” empowerment program, assumed her role as part of the NGO’s activities to commemorate this year’s UN “International Day of the Girl Child.”
In discussions with Board members, she suggested involving a greater number of youth in decision-making processes and activities aimed at maintaining a peaceful atmosphere during the critical election period.
She also urged all political parties to commit to signing the peace pact to help safeguard the nation’s existing peace.
Ms. Kamasa urged the Electoral Commission and political parties to ensure fairness, accuracy, and equity in the election process while promoting clean campaigns.
She also recommended that the Peace Council establish peace clubs in basic schools, particularly in rural communities, to encourage schoolchildren to become ambassadors of peace.
Reflecting on her experience as the NPC’s Board Chair for a day, Ms. Kamasa stated, “It’s been amazing to take over the seat of the Chairman of the NPC, and on the Day of the Girl Child, I’m happy to have made suggestions to my team to promote peace.
“Children have some knowledge about peace, but they will understand it better when they are educated about it, enabling them to join the effort to spread the message. To me, peace means unity, and together we can promote it,” she added.
Mr. Frank Wilson Bodza, Head of Conflict Management and Resolution at the NPC, said that the Council had trained 180 politicians across the regions to resolve inter and intra-party conflicts, often utilizing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
The NPC has also trained about 450 media personnel on issues such as hate speech, vigilantism, and information disorder (including misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation) to help prevent sensationalism in their reporting and avoid conflicts.
Mr. Bodza informed the new Board Chair that the NPC was also conducting peace promotion campaigns within communities, particularly focusing on areas with land, cultural, and electoral disputes, to discourage citizens from actions that could lead to violence.
“We are also told that many of the issues raised by the NDC are being addressed by the EC and so going forward the register would be shared with all political parties.
“We will continue to educate the masses on political, electoral tolerance and social cohesion because the nation is the most important to ensure at the end of the day, we have a peaceful election and transition,” he said.
Gender and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Specialist at Plan International Ghana, Esenam Ahiadorme, stated that the takeover project is conducted annually to prepare adolescents for leadership roles.
“We want to encourage young girls to take up leadership positions and let them know they can do it. We need to let them know that the positions are there and it is up to them to get ready for the task,” she added.
Mrs. Ahiadorme explained that Sophia was selected because Plan International Ghana aims to provide opportunities for individuals in deprived areas to “shine” and inspire others in their communities to do the same.
“We also wanted her to encourage other young girls in rural areas that if they do well and are ready to give off their best, we are there to push them to the forefront,” she added.
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