YOUTH EXCLUSION, UNEMPLOYMENT THREATEN PEACE IN WEST AFRICA — SUMMIT CALLS FOR URGENT SME SUPPORT AND POLICY ACTION

 YOUTH EXCLUSION, UNEMPLOYMENT THREATEN PEACE IN WEST AFRICA — SUMMIT CALLS FOR URGENT SME SUPPORT AND POLICY ACTION. 

Unemployment, poverty, and limited inclusion in decision-making processes have been identified as major drivers of youth vulnerability to extremism in West Africa, as stakeholders call for urgent, coordinated action to address the growing challenge.

These concerns came to the fore at the first-ever West African Youth Summit on Peace and Security organised by Conciliation Resources, bringing together young leaders and stakeholders from across the region.

In an interview with, Julian Cobbinah, Chairperson of the National Youth Authority, warned that rising unemployment continues to threaten social stability, pushing many young people into desperation and making them susceptible to recruitment into violent and extremist groups.

He stressed that the lack of sustainable income prevents many from meeting basic needs and supporting their families, often leading to frustration and, in extreme cases, dangerous alternatives for survival.

“When people do not have jobs or reliable incomes, they become desperate. That desperation can make them easy targets for recruitment into violent and extremist groups,” he noted.

He emphasised that tackling unemployment must be treated as both a national security priority and an economic imperative, calling for stronger investment in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as key drivers of job creation.

According to him, one of Ghana’s major challenges is the inability to scale small businesses into larger enterprises. He urged government to provide targeted support, including access to funding, technical assistance, and integration into global value chains.

He added that a single SME can employ between 10 and 15 people, and supporting up to 100,000 SMEs could significantly reduce unemployment nationwide. He also highlighted the need to invest in the primary sector and expand recruitment into security services as part of broader job creation strategies.

In a related interview, Nansata Saliah Yakubu raised concerns about the limited inclusion of African youth in key decision-making processes, despite their active role in peacebuilding.

She noted that young people across West Africa continue to work in high-risk and cross-border communities, contributing practical solutions to security challenges, yet their voices are often overlooked.

“Even though they have very good solutions, they are left out of decision-making processes, yet they continue to do the work on the ground,” she stated.

She explained that the summit serves as a platform to amplify youth voices, share experiences, and showcase ongoing peacebuilding efforts under the “Leaders of Today, Not Tomorrow” initiative, implemented in partnership with Global Affairs Canada.

The programme aims to strengthen cross-border collaboration, build youth networks, and promote solidarity among young peace actors, while ensuring their contributions are recognised at higher policy levels.

Outcomes from the summit will feed into the African Union consultation process on reforms related to youth, peace, and security.

The initiative, which began in June 2025, will run until June 2026, culminating in a communiqué to be presented on Friday and submitted to the African Union’s Peace and Security leadership.

Nansata Saliah Yakubu describe the summit as a first-of-its-kind effort to position young people not just as beneficiaries, but as central actors in shaping sustainable peace and security solutions across West Africa.

Story by: Mary Bempah