Alavanyo and Nkonya commemorate ten years of sustainable peace

The chiefs and people of Alavanyo and Nkonya, alongside the Youth for Peace and Security in Africa (YPS-Africa) and Citizens Network for Peace and Security in Africa (CNPSA), recently celebrated a decade of sustained peace and development in their communities.

This milestone was commemorated with the "Guardians of Peace Awards 2024," held on November 6 at the Palace of the Paramount Chief, Nanayin Okotor Kwame Tegyi II, in Nkonya. These awards highlighted the significant contributions that helped transform Alavanyo and Nkonya from zones of conflict into a model of peace since 2014, following a century of violent clashes.

Abraham Korbla Klutsey, a Peace and Security Advocate and Executive Director of YPS-Africa and CNPSA, explained that the awards were established to honor individuals and groups who played crucial roles in the peacebuilding process.

He acknowledged the resilience and commitment of various leaders, opinion shapers, and community members who contributed to the successful youth-led peacebuilding project from 2013 to 2014, transforming the region’s long-standing conflict into a symbol of hope and reconciliation.

Those honored included the late paramount chief, Nana Otorkor Kofi III; the late Regent of Tayi-Nkonya, Mr. Yaw Elletey; the current Paramount Chief of Nkonya, Nanayin Okotor Kwame Tegyi II; as well as sub-chiefs, youth leaders, former members of armed groups, and families who lost loved ones to the conflict. Mr. Klutsey also paid tribute to individuals who had served the peace cause but were no longer with us.

The peace initiative has worked to strengthen the community's resilience, reduce the risk of conflict reemerging, and guide the youth away from joining armed groups. “We’ve encouraged local youth to safeguard this peace and attracted development organizations to support education, health, and other essential services in these communities,” Klutsey shared.

This journey of transformation and youth-led peacebuilding has been documented in the book *Peacebuilding at the Edge of Death,* which captures YPS-Africa's efforts and illustrates how youth engagement and community cooperation can heal even the most enduring conflicts.