The Central Regional Office of the National Peace Council (NPC) has intensified efforts to build a culture of peace among young people through a school-based peace education campaign.

The campaign has reached more than 3,000 students in the first quarter of 2026.

The campaign, part of the Council’s peacebuilding mandate, educated students on peaceful coexistence, responsible citizenship, conflict prevention and the legal consequences of violence and vigilantism.

Under the theme: “Preventing Violence in Schools,” students learned about the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999), with particular focus on student violence and its consequences.

Participants received practical training in conflict prevention, dialogue, leadership, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Also, there were group discussions, interactive exercises and experience-sharing to develop skills to serve as peace ambassadors in their institutions and communities.

They were also introduced to practical approaches for maintaining peaceful learning environments, including peer mediation, respectful communication and early reporting of grievances.

The interactive sessions allowed students to share experiences and discuss real-life conflict situations.

The visited schools include the Cape Coast Technical School and Ekon/A Basic School in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Asuansi Technical Institute and Abakrampa Senior High School in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District, Assin Manso Senior High School in Assin South District.

Beyond classroom sensitisation, the Council organised a youth capacity development programme dubbed: “Empowering the Youth for Peacebuilding,” in Assin Fosu, which 60 students from Obiri Yeboah Senior High School, Fosu College of Education, Nurses and Midwifery Training College, in the Fosu Municipality together with four teachers and facilitators, attended.

Dr Charles Ohene-Amoh, Central Regional Executive Secretary of the Council, told the Ghana News Agency that schools remained critical spaces for shaping attitudes, values and behaviours that contributed to social harmony and national development.

He encouraged students to embrace lawful conduct, discipline and peaceful methods of resolving disputes.

Dr Ohene-Amoh said the overwhelming participation and enthusiasm across the schools reflected a growing interest among young people in understanding civic responsibilities and contributing positively to peace building.

Encouraged by the impact of the first-quarter activities, he announced plans to extend the programme to additional schools targeting the University Practice Senior High School in Cape Coast Metropolis, Boa Amponsem Senior High School in Upper Denkyira East, Diaso Senior High School in Upper Denkyira West, Obrachire Senior High School in Awutu Senya and Breman Asakusa Senior High School in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District.

He reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to promoting peace and social cohesion through sustained educational outreach and youth empowerment initiatives.

Many students thanked the organisers for the chance to learn about the legal implications of violence and vigilantism and practical techniques to manage conflicts.