The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) has begun a five-week training course themed, “Development Diplomacy for Peace and Security” in its quest to promote peace and security on the continent.
16 participants were drawn from the sub-region to undergo the important five-week training course.
According to Air Vice Marshall Christian Edem Dovlo, Commandant of KAIPTC, the institution is mandated to engage in capacity building of mid-level career executive staff on the role of governments and regional organizations to strengthen African societies against external and internal shocks and strife.
AVM Dovlo said some specific challenges would have been addressed after the attainment of the aim of the session.
Some of the challenges, he noted, include response of various actors at national and regional level to security issues and communication and strategic development.
AVM Dovlo touched on the effects of conflict on Africa, particularly the West African sub-region.
“Today we can cautiously say that we are gradually transiting into an era of relative peace and political stability in some ex-conflict prone areas though the ‘wounds’ inflicted will take time to heal through various peace building processes,” he intimated.
According to him, the facilitators of the training session are experienced practitioners who will draw on their actual experiences, best practices and lessons learnt on the field.
The course is aimed at looking critically at how to manage, resolve and prevent conflict since it is part of human nature.
Fred Brandl, the Director of German International Corperation (GIC), added that the training will focus on professionals and executives from 16 Sub-Sahara African countries working in key ministries and regional organizations and dealing with security and peace policy related aspects of regional and international cooperation.
He added that with these people the aim of transferring knowledge on development diplomacy will be achieved.
“Peace and security in turn require regional and international cooperation. This view is increasingly shared across the continent and has led to quite a number of most important activities and initiatives like the African Union (AU),” he added.
He revealed that this is the fourth year GIZ and KAIPTC are jointly conducting this course, stressing that they will continue hold the session so that peace and security can prevail to enhance development.
By Ruth Ampiaw and Carlene Affram.