Abetifi MP and Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong has urged African governments to invest in peace building research and capacity building of its security forces.
He made this known at the 12th joint graduation of the Masters of Arts in Conflicts, Peace and Security and Master of Arts in Gender Peace and Security of the Kofi Annan International peace Keeping Training Centre (KAIPTC).
The former Minister of State at the Interior and National Security Ministries added that the emerging emphasis on the localization of peace building strategies impresses upon agencies to embrace partnerships to develop African centered research that solve African problems.
“While liberal peace has dominated peacebuilding policy and practice in Africa, Institutions or stakeholders differ in their approaches to peacebuilding policy and practice in Africa. Regional actors due to their proximity usually have a more intimate understanding of the country in crisis and greater knowledge of local conflict dynamics, context, and actors. They are also better at understanding the cultural sensitivities and culturally effective and acceptable ways of managing crises both in conflict situations and post-conflict phases,” Bryan Acheampong asserted.
“Emerging peacebuilding approaches place emphasis on localization necessitating that peacebuilding academia embraces new partnerships which enforce Global South cooperation in developing African research agendas. To this end, African governments and the private sector must consider investing in peacebuilding research, institutional development, and capacity building. Peacebuilding is a collective responsibility of state and non-state actors,” he charged.
Meanwhile, Commandant of the Kofi Annan International peace Keeping Training Centre, Major General Richard Addo Gyane admonished the graduates to be critical in their comments around conflicts in order not escalate situation.
The 12th Joint Graduation had 37 graduates comprising six Graduates With A Master Of Arts Degree In Gender, Peace And Security (MGPC), one graduating with a Master Of Arts Degree In Conflict, Peace And Security (MCPS), one Executive Master Of Arts Degree In Conflict, Peace And Security (EMCPS), 5 with a Weekend Master Of Arts Degree In Conflict, Peace And Security (WMGPS) and 24 graduates with a Weekend Master Of Arts Degree In Gender, Peace And Security (WMCPS).
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
