KAIPTC Graduates 104 at 13th Joint Ceremony, Highlights Africa’s Role in Global Peace and Security.

Accra: The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) has held its 13th Joint Graduation Ceremony, highlighting Africa's role in global peace and security. Some 104 students graduated with master's degrees in three specialized programmes.According to Ghana News Agency, the graduation class comprised 104 graduates from Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa. This included 51 graduates from the Master of Arts in Conflict, Peace, and Security programme, 28 from the Master of Arts in Gender, Peace, and Security programme, and 26 from the Executive Master of Arts in Conflict, Peace, and Security programme. The event, marking the Centre's 20th anniversary, was themed 'Celebrating Two Decades of Excellence: Promoting Peace and Security in A Changing World Order.'Major General Dr. Richard Addo Gyane, Commandant of KAIPTC, commended the graduates for their accomplishments, emphasizing their preparedness to address complex global challenges. He noted the importance of education in equipping them with tools to improve social and economic conditions, particularly for the socially vulnerable.Maj Gen Gyane encouraged the graduates to view their education not as an endpoint but as a foundation for innovative contributions to global challenges, with a focus on West Africa and Africa. He stressed the need for African perspectives to be central in global security governance to promote inclusive cooperation.Osabarima Ansah Sasraku III, Chief of Mamfe, acknowledged the Centre's achievements over the past 20 years and discussed Africa's historical marginalization in global governance. He highlighted ongoing challenges such as election-related violence, land administration issues, and military coups in West Africa, which threaten regional stability.Ms. Esther Asiome, Valedictorian of the 2024 graduating class, reflected on the challenges faced during her studies and emphasized the importance of applying acquired knowledge to promote peace and gender inclusion in communities.The ceremony also saw the launch of the second edition of the KAIPTC Journal of African Peace and Security (JAPS), which aims to challenge Western-centric narratives and address issues such as democratic reversals and leadership crises in Africa. The journal seeks to amplify African voices in scholarly discourse on peace and security.