Ashanti Regional Peace Council, SALW Commission Sensitizes Students on Peace and Conflict Resolution

The Ashanti Regional Peace Council (ARPC), in collaboration with the Small Arms and Light Weapons Commission (SALW), has organized a peace education and sensitization programme for over 3,500 students, teachers, and administrators at Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI).

The initiative held in Kumasi, under the theme “Peace education, sensitization, and the prevention of violence in schools”, focused on equipping Junior and Senior High School students with non-violent approaches to resolving conflicts, educating them on the dangers of illicit possession of small arms, and establishing Peace Ambassadors Clubs across schools in the region.

Speaking at the programme, Regional Executive Secretary of the ARPC, Rev. Emmanuel Badu Amoah, PhD, cautioned students on the rising incidents of violence among young people in schools, describing it as a worrying national concern.

He urged them to embrace respect, dialogue, and tolerance as key tools for peaceful coexistence.

“Illicit possession of arms is a threat to national security. The alarming access to firearms, even by children in some communities, is a dangerous trend that must be urgently addressed. Dialogue and non-violent means must always be preferred to violence, as the use of firearms only escalates conflicts and endangers lives,” he stressed.

On his part, Ag. Regional Director of the SALW Commission, Mr. Emmanuel Kenneth Oduro, underscored the dangers of firearms in the hands of young people.

“One gun in the wrong hands within a school environment could cause irreversible harm. Students must therefore remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious behaviour or knowledge of weapons on campus to the appropriate authorities. Silence only increases the risks for everyone,” he noted.

Other dignitaries present included Mr. Benedict Boakye Nuamah, Vice Principal of KTI, staff of ARPC, staff of the SALW Commission, and representatives from the KTI administration and teaching body.

Judith Twumwaa, ISD