FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, JULY 14, 2025
GHANA CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE ORGANISES “SAHEL PEACE INITIATIVE NATIONAL FORUM” TO ADDRESS YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT AS A PEACE AND SECURITY IMPERATIVE IN GHANA
Accra, Ghana – In response to the growing nexus between youth unemployment and internal security threats in Ghana, the Sahel Peace Initiative (SPI), a flagship programme of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, spearheaded by the Governance, Justice and Peace Directorate, will host a high-level National Forum on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the Christ the King Catholic Church Parish Hall in Accra.
The Forum, themed: “Political Economy of Conflict in Ghana: Addressing Youth Unemployment as a Catalyst for Security and Social Cohesion”, brings together government ministers, security experts, labour economists, faith and traditional leaders, development partners, and youth representatives.
The objective is to deepen national dialogue and forge coordinated responses to the country’s youth unemployment challenge, recognizing its implications for peace, stability, and human dignity.
The event is being organised in partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) and supported by several partners working at the intersection of peacebuilding, governance, and development.
Among the key speakers are:
• Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference
• Hon. Minister for the Interior
• Hon. Minister for Defence
• Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah, Director of Kaizen Institute for Labour Economics (Keynote Speaker)
• Senior representatives from the UNCO and UNDP
• Renowned experts such as Prof. Kwesi Aning (KAIPTC) and Rev. Fr. Dr. Clement Aapengnuo (COGINTA Ghana).
The Forum will also feature the presentation of a newly validated advocacy research report commissioned by SPI, which examines structural drivers of youth unemployment, its link to violent extremism, and the emerging role of faith-based organizations in fostering hope, livelihoods, and resilience among young people.
According to Rev. Fr. Michael Quaicoe, Director of Governance, Justice and Peace Directorate, “This Forum is not just a conversation, it is a national call to action. Ghana cannot talk about security and peace without confronting the economic precarity facing our young people. We are inviting all sectors; state, faith, private and civil society, to respond together.”
The Forum is expected to produce recommendations for action by key stakeholders. The Sahel Peace Initiative is a regional effort of the Catholic Church in West Africa, focused on promoting peace, interfaith collaboration, and youth empowerment in fragile areas across the Sahel corridor, including northern Ghana.
Media Contact:
Nana Nyarko Owusu
Head of Programs, Governance, Justice and Peace Directorate
📧 cplo@govjustpeace.org
📞 +233 26 370 6419
source:www.senaradioonline.com
