opening remarks by deputy commandant of kaiptc, brig - wanep

OPENING REMARKS BY DEPUTY COMMANDANT OF KAIPTC, BRIG. GEN BENJAMIN KUSI
Mr. Takwa Suifon of the AU Commission
The Executive Director of WANEP, Mr. Emmanuel Bombande
Media Partners
Invited Guests
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of the commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, it
is my pleasure and privilege to welcome you this morning to the opening ceremony of the 11 th
training session of the West Africa Peacebuilding Institute (WAPI).
Ladies and Gentlemen the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) over
the years has established itself as the Centre of research and training in peacekeeping
programmes, activities and running courses such as this to curb poverty and violent acts like
killings, robberies, arms and human trafficking, drug smuggling, sexual harassment and many
other threats to peace and security. Therefore this training programme has been designed to
address some of these challenges.
We are also of the opinion that if we must attain stability in Africa, capacity development,
promotion of good governance, and protection of human rights must be critical policy
priorities. However, there is no gainsaying the fact that the pursuits of these laudable goals
have been challenged by inadequate resource capacity and lack of expertise. It therefore makes
it imperative for this continent to develop strong human and institutional capacities to meet
these challenges, as well as sustain advocacy in the peacebuilding process.
Over the last two decades, Africa’s political landscape has witnessed protracted, destabilizing
and debilitating conflicts and unacceptable levels of human emergency which have not only
destroyed our societies but also derailed almost every legacy bequeathed to us by our
forbearers.
Today, we can cautiously say that we are steadily transiting into an era of relative peace and
can add with all certainty that organizations like the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding
(WANEP) have contributed largely to this and even continue to do more.
This is the reason why the KAIPTC continues to partner with the West Africa Network for
Peacebuilding (WANEP) to conduct this annual training. The West Africa Peacebuilding Institute
(WAPI) has been crafted to facilitate capacity building in all spheres of peacebuilding and good
governance for African practitioners, Intergovernmental Organisations such as ECOWAS AU and

UN, government agencies, the business community as well as CSOs from the fields of
Peacebuilding, conflict, human security and development, relief and humanitarian aid, and
peace support operations.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am of the view that this year’s training sessions has been structured to
respond adequately to the current and future challenges of peacebuilding in Africa. I must
hasten to caution that the objective of this course will not be achieved without your
enthusiasm and active participation. I therefore urge you all to take advantage of the wealth of
experiences your facilitators bring to the table and share these experiences and knowledge
with your colleagues. This will not only be key to your success during these few weeks, but
most importantly for your success when you return home.
On this note, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I want to welcome everyone once again to
the Centre and wish you a successful training.
I thank you for your attention