Sixty young peacebuilders from across West Africa have gathered in Accra for a three-day summit aimed at amplifying youth voices in peace and security decision-making, amid growing concerns over the spread of instability in the region.

The West Africa Youth Summit on Peace, Peacebuilding and Security, which opened on Tuesday, is bringing together participants from border communities, peace networks, and marginalised groups to exchange ideas and develop strategies to strengthen regional stability.

The meeting is being convened by Conciliation Resources in collaboration with Northcode Ghana and Indigo Côte d’Ivoire, with support from Global Affairs Canada.

Held under the theme “Leaders of today, not tomorrow,” the summit is positioning young people not as future actors but as current drivers of peacebuilding efforts across the sub-region. Participants include young men and women from northern Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, alongside traditional authorities, government officials and regional security experts, creating a platform for direct engagement between grassroots actors and policymakers.

Opening the summit, Dr George Amoh, Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, outlined the evolving security landscape in West Africa, where the southward spread of armed violence from the Sahel continues to pose a growing threat to previously stable coastal countries. He stressed the importance of inclusive approaches that recognise the role of young people in sustaining peace.

West Africa has in recent years faced increasing pressure from armed groups operating across the Sahel, with their activities edging closer to the coastal states. Countries such as Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire—two of the region’s largest economies—are seen as critical to maintaining broader regional stability.

In her welcome address, Nansata Saliah Yakubu of Conciliation Resources underscored the active role young people are already playing in conflict prevention and peacebuilding across communities. She said the summit was intended to connect these efforts, amplify youth-led initiatives and ensure their perspectives inform decision-making at national and regional levels.

Participants also engaged in discussions centred on the realities of insecurity in border communities during the opening session, which explored how young people are responding to emerging threats and social exclusion. These conversations highlighted locally driven solutions and the resilience strategies being adopted in vulnerable areas.

The summit further examined lessons from ongoing cross-border initiatives, including youth leadership programmes between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, which focus on strengthening collaboration and building networks among young peace actors. Organisers say such initiatives are key to addressing shared security challenges across borders.

The event will conclude on March 27 with the presentation of the Accra Youth Declaration on Peace and Security in West Africa, a document expected to outline the priorities and recommendations of young people. The declaration will be submitted to regional bodies including the African Union and ECOWAS, as well as national governments and international partners, in a bid to influence policy and action on peace and security in the region.