Vice President Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has urged African nations to take greater ownership of the continent’s peace and security agenda, emphasising that Africa must no longer be a spectator in global affairs but a proactive shaper of its own destiny.

Delivering her keynote address as Special Guest of Honour at the 14th Graduation Ceremony of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra, the Vice President—represented by Alex Segbefia, commended the Centre for its enduring contribution to peacebuilding and conflict resolution across Africa.

Speaking under the theme, “Building African Agency for Peace and Security in a Changing World,” Prof. Opoku-Agyemang hailed the KAIPTC as a “world-class institution and a living legacy of Kofi Annan’s vision for global peace.”

She congratulated the graduates for their perseverance and commitment to service, urging them to “become active architects of solutions, not passive observers” in the face of complex security challenges confronting the continent.

“Africa must take bold ownership of its peace, its economy, and its destiny.

Agency is about purposeful action—the ability to make choices, set agendas, and shape outcomes,” she stated.

The Vice President highlighted the growing security threats across the continent—from terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel to illicit trafficking and cybercrime—and reiterated the Mahama administration’s resolve to strengthen Ghana’s peace and security architecture.

She further revealed that the government, through the Ministry of Defence, has approved plans to revive and complete the long-abandoned KAIPTC building complex through a public-private partnership.

The project, she noted, will expand the Centre’s training capacity, enhance regional collaboration, and reaffirm Ghana’s leadership in international peacekeeping.

“The incomplete state of this facility stands as a silent reminder of deferred promise,” she said.

“Its completion will be a testament to our commitment to investing in knowledge, leadership, and human capital—the true pillars of lasting peace.”

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also called for renewed diplomatic engagement within ECOWAS, particularly efforts to reintegrate Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso into the regional bloc, stressing that Ghana’s peace is inseparable from that of its neighbours.

The ceremony, attended by senior military officers, members of the diplomatic corps, faculty, and traditional leaders, celebrated graduates drawn from across Africa who have completed advanced programmes in peacekeeping, security, and governance.

In her concluding remarks, the Vice President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting institutions like the KAIPTC in their mandate to build capacity for peace and stability.

“The story of Africa is still being written,” she said. “It will be defined not by our past limitations, but by the choices we make today. When justice, opportunity, and dignity prevail, peace will truly take root.”

The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, named after the late former UN Secretary-General, continues to serve as one of Africa’s leading hubs for peace research, training, and policy dialogue.