About Us

From vision to impacts: the birth of YPS-Africa and CNPSA

The Birth and Growth of Youth for Peace and Security – Africa (YPS-Africa) and Citizens Network for Peace and Security in Africa (CNPSA)

Where It All Began: Our story begins on the border of Ghana and Togo — in Aflao, a peaceful Ghanaian town that suddenly found itself overwhelmed by the human cost of conflict during the 1995 political crisis in Togo. Though not a refugee, a young Ghanaian living in Aflao witnessed thousands of frightened families fleeing across the border — mothers carrying babies, children separated from parents, men looking back at homes they might never return to. The sounds of gunfire, the silence of trauma, and the look in the eyes of the displaced left a lasting impact. That boy would grow up with questions — Why do conflicts happen? Why do they persist? And who can stop them? Over time, these questions gave birth to a purpose: to build peace where others see only brokenness. Not through foreign interventions, but through empowering African youth and citizens themselves to become peacebuilders, mediators, and defenders of justice.That vision came to life through the founding of two transformational Pan-African organizations: Youth for Peace and Security – Africa (YPS-Africa), and Citizens Network for Peace and Security in Africa (CNPSA).

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YPS-Africa: Youth as Peacebuilders

In 2012, YPS-Africa was officially registered in Ghana as a Pan-African, youth-led peacebuilding organization. It was born out of the belief that young people are not the problem , they are the solution to Africa’s most pressing peace and security challenges. For too long, youth have been exploited in conflicts, recruited by extremist groups, and ignored in policy-making. YPS-Africa was created to challenge that narrative and to equip African youth with the tools, knowledge, and platforms to: Mediate and resolve community conflicts Prevent violent extremism and political violence Engage in local and regional peacebuilding processes Strengthen social cohesion and intergroup dialogue Serve as frontline responders in early warning and early response systems Our work is rooted in the belief that peace must come from within, from those who understand the land, live the struggle, and carry the hope of their communities. One of YPS-Africa’s most impactful interventions was in Ghana, helping to end the over 100-year conflict between the people of Alavanyo and Nkonya. Through youth-led community engagement, intergenerational dialogue, and the empowerment of women and traditional leaders, we helped restore hope, dialogue, and trust in a region long plagued by violence.

CNPSA: The Administrative Backbone of a Continental Vision

As YPS-Africa grew in scale and ambition, the need for a strong administrative and governance structure became clear. In 2019, we formally registered the Citizens Network for Peace and Security in Africa (CNPSA) as a civil society organization in Ghana. CNPSA now serves as the administrative and coordinating body for YPS-Africa and its continental peacebuilding agenda.

While YPS-Africa focuses on mobilizing and empowering youth, CNPSA engages the wider spectrum of civil society — including women, community leaders, traditional authorities, and state institutions — to ensure inclusive, locally owned, and sustainable peace processes.

CNPSA also leads advocacy for policy reforms, community peacebuilding training, national peace dialogues, and civil-military relations. It works in collaboration with peace councils, regional bodies like ECOWAS and the African Union, and other stakeholders to promote grassroots-driven peace and security across Africa.

From Ghana to the Continent

From a dream that started in Aflao, we have grown into a Pan-African force for peace. Today, both YPS-Africa and CNPSA have:

Registered offices in Ghana, Nigeria, and Ethiopia

A growing network of volunteers and peace actors in over 25 African countries, including Kenya, Sierra Leone, Mali, South Sudan, The Gambia, Malawi, DRC, and Burkina Faso

Plans underway to formally register branches across all African regions, amplifying our impact continent-wide

This expansion is driven by a shared belief that peace cannot be outsourced — it must be led by Africans, for Africans, from the grassroots up.

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Real Impact, Real Change

Together, YPS-Africa and CNPSA have: Trained more than 3,500 youth and women in peacebuilding, mediation, early warning, and community leadership
Led successful peace interventions in Ghana and supported conflict prevention in Northern Ghana, Nigeria, and Ethiopia
Published and promoted the groundbreaking book, Peacebuilding at the Edge of Death, which documents the Nkonya-Alavanyo peace process and serves as an academic and advocacy tool
Launched national campaigns against electoral violence, including the widely supported slogan: “Stop the Violence Before It Happens”
Built partnerships with traditional rulers, government institutions, diplomatic missions, and international NGOs to promote citizen-led peace initiatives

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Our vision for the future

so Our vision presents new hope

We envision an Africa where peace is a culture, not an exception. Where young people are not only included in peace and security spaces, but lead them. Where every citizen , regardless of tribe, religion, gender, or geography , has the power to contribute to lasting peace.

Our mission is generational, but our momentum is urgent. As Africa faces complex challenges , from extremism and civil wars to electoral violence and land disputes , we believe now is the time to strengthen African-led peace solutions.