Major General William Omane-Agyekum (Rtd), Country Representative of the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security, has called for the adoption of the Vancouver Principles in Ghana Army training programmes. He made the call during a visit to the Headquarters Central Command at Idris Barracks, Kumasi, on Tuesday, 12 August 2025.
During discussions with the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Central Command, Brigadier General Albert Ogaja, and Principal Staff Officers of the Headquarters, Maj Gen Omane-Agyekum (Rtd) explained the Dallaire Institute’s role in training soldiers to protect children during armed conflicts, especially in peacekeeping missions. He said one of the Institute’s main goals is to stop the recruitment and use of child soldiers.
Adopted by UN member states in 2017, the 17 Vancouver Principles guide military and police forces in identifying, preventing, and responding to the use of children in conflict. They emphasize early warning, readiness, and adherence to international humanitarian law.
Maj Gen Omane-Agyekum (Rtd) noted that Ghana, as a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, would gain from fully incorporating the Vancouver Principles into its military policies and training. He added that this would improve operational performance while upholding human rights standards.
Brig Gen Ogaja welcomed the proposal and said Central Command would add these child-protection measures to its training. He stressed that soldiers must be prepared to protect both women and children during operations, whether in Ghana or on international assignments.
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