The Executive Director of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Levinia Addae-Mensah, has called on governments and institutions to create more opportunities for young people to participate in leadership and decision-making.
She made the call at the opening of the 3rd West Africa Youth Summit in Accra, held under the theme, “Youth Rising: Co-Creating Africa’s Future Through Innovative Policy, Leadership and Resilience.”
Mrs. Addae-Mensah said young people across West Africa have already demonstrated resilience despite unemployment, exclusion and other challenges, stressing that they should be seen as partners in development rather than beneficiaries of programmes.
She noted that youth empowerment should go beyond training and capacity building, urging governments and institutions to give young people the opportunity to influence policies and help shape the future of the region.
Mrs. Addae-Mensah also announced WANEP’s Intergenerational Empowerment and Transition Circles Initiative, which seeks to strengthen collaboration between young and older generations through dialogue, shared learning and joint leadership.
According to her, rebuilding trust between generations is critical to promoting peace, strengthening institutions and advancing sustainable development across West Africa.
Also speaking at the event, Jürgen Heissel, Ambassador, Austrian Embassy in Ghana, said sustainable peace cannot be built for young people but with young people.
He called on governments and development partners to invest in youth participation, education and employment, stressing that meaningful youth involvement is key to building peaceful, democratic and resilient societies.
![President John Dramani Mahama [left],](https://www.citinewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/MAHAMA-SIERRA-LEONE-350x250.jpeg)
