National Peace Council  Intensifies School Sensitization Campaign in Akuapem North

The Eastern Regional branch of the National Peace Council (NPC) has launched a major sensitization drive at Okorase Methodist JHS B in the Akuapem North Municipality, aimed at equipping students with practical skills in conflict prevention, tolerance, and non-violent dispute resolution.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Eastern Regional Peace Council (ERPC), forms part of ongoing efforts to promote peaceful coexistence and discipline in basic schools across the region.

Conflict Is Natural, Violence Is a Choice

Speaking at the event, ERPC Programmes Manager, Osmond Appiah Danquah, emphasized that while conflicts are inevitable in school environments, violence is avoidable.

“Conflicts are natural wherever people interact, especially among young people,” he stated. “However, violence is a choice. Through dialogue, patience, and mutual respect, disagreements can be resolved peacefully without causing harm.”

He encouraged students to adopt communication and peer mediation techniques to address misunderstandings before they escalate into fights or destructive behaviour.

Warning on Legal Consequences

ERPC Administrator, Rose Padiki Ayertey, also took students through the legal implications of engaging in violent conduct, bullying, and destruction of school property.

She cautioned that under Ghanaian law, serious offences committed by minors can result in arrest, prosecution, probation, or placement in juvenile rehabilitation facilities.

“Many young people assume that because they are minors, they cannot be held accountable. That is not entirely true. The law provides corrective measures that can significantly affect your future,” she warned.

Her remarks were aimed at deterring students from engaging in acts that could jeopardize their academic progress and personal development.

Promoting a Culture of Peace

The engagement brought together peace experts, educators, and students in an interactive session designed to strengthen discipline and tolerance within the school community.

Students were encouraged to become ambassadors of peace, uphold school rules, and report early signs of conflict to teachers and authorities.

The sensitization drive is expected to be extended to other schools within the Akuapem North Municipality as part of broader efforts to foster peaceful learning environments and reduce youth-related violence in the Eastern Region.