Government is committed to youth development

Hohoe, Aug 13, GNA - Col Cyril Necku (RTD), the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, has reassured the youth that government was committed to creating a congenial atmosphere for them to realize their potential and contribute to national development.

He pledged equity in the distribution of the national cake, irrespective of geographical location, political representation or religious beliefs.

Col Necku said this at a ceremony in Hohoe to climax a six-day Generation for Peace Camp 2009, a youth-for-youth project for 50 young people drawn from the Alavanyo and Nkonya Traditional areas towards consolidating the peace between them.

The Camp, which coincided with the International Youth Day (IYD), was organized by Youth Empowerment Synergy (YES-Ghana), an Accra-based non-governmental organisation.

He commended the chiefs and people of the two areas for demonstrating maturity and commitment to the peace process that ended the over 80 years of conflict over land. Col Necku said the involvement of the youth in the peace processes would strengthen relationships leading to an integrated approach to conflict resolution and management without which peace in the area would be elusive.

Togbega Atakora Tsedze VII, Paramount Chief of Alavanyo Traditional Area, who was represented by Togbe Petey Kwatsie III, chief of Alavanyo-Gbogbedze and Nana Okoto Kofi III, Paramount Chief of Nkonya Traditional Area, vowed to nurture, maintain and sustain the peace for it to mature and affect even generations yet unborn. They commended YES-Ghana and its collaborators for envisioning this project which, they said, would deepen the integration processes being mainstreamed by the Joint Mediation Committees under the auspices of other related partners.

The Paramount chiefs expressed indignation on the deplorable state of the Wegbe/Alavanyo/Nkonya road dubbed the "Unity" road with works coming to a standstill.

They therefore appealed to the government to expedite action on the said road to cement the peace and serve as reference point to combatants in other conflict areas countrywide to co-exist peacefully. Mr Emmanuel Edudzie, Executive Director of YES-Ghana, said that their gesture was to create, build and sustain lasting friendships and bonds between young people from the two areas based on mutual understanding, respect and trust.

Ms Celestine Fuvi and Ms Gifty Asare, both Peace Ambassadors from the Peace Camp, who hailed from the two traditional areas, said the project was an eye-opener that had broadened their horizon and repositioned them for the task of informing and educating their peers and society on peace building, maintenance and management. The Peace Ambassadors presented "Signed Peace Banners" to the two paramountcies which would be showcased at their palaces. The Camp, which was themed, "Peace Begins With Young People" was supported by the National Population Council (NPC), National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and Ghana Education Service (GES) with funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 13 Aug 09