This article was provided by Dennis K.A. Penu, Director of Programs at Life-Link Model United Nations
This past summer, students had the pleasure of attending the inaugural edition of the Life-Link Tertiary Model United Nations, hosted by Life-Link Friendship Schools of Ghana.
LTMUN is an annual conference held in June that hosts over 500 delegates from universities across Ghana, West-African Sub-region and around the globe. LTMUN’s organizers form a Non-Governmental organization centered on developing youth leadership across Ghana. Their programs have been endorsed by the state’s UN Office and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Life-Link currently runs two annual model UN conferences for high schools in partnership with the UN in Ghana and the Ministry of Communications. Life-Link’s high school conferences are held annually in the summer and fall; they host students from across Ghana and abroad. Their Junior High School Model UN (JHSMUN) is held on international UN Day (24th October). It hosts about 200 delegates from schools across Ghana and abroad. The Senior High School Model UN (SHSMUN) takes place in August and hosts over 500 delegates. Topics raised at both conferences are selected based on their moderate level of difficulty, yet high degree of interest.
Life-Link’s been quite successful with operating flexible rules of procedure, allowing delegates to adapt easily to structure of Model UN.
The organization has also unveiled a weekly reality TV program dubbed “The Delegate”; it focuses on the workings of the UN Security Council.
To find out more about the organization and its conferences, check out their website. Life-Link has also received press coverage including:
- President Mills commends Life-Link
- Bringing The United Nations To The Doorstep Of Less-Privileged Ghanaian Students
Life-Link Campaigns for Sustainable Development
Life-Link Ghana has successfully hosted the first session of the Tertiary Model United Nations from the 7-9th June 2012. The conference was on the theme: “Sustainable Development; a viable approach towards achieving the post 2015 (MDGs) development agenda”.
The Life-Link Tertiary Model UN conference, which will be organized annually, was held at the Accra International Conference Centre and the opening ceremony was addressed by the UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Ms. Ruby Sandhu-Rojon. The ceremony honored the UNDP with a documentary highlighting their support for the basic school edition of the conference. In the UN Resident Coordinator’s address, she emphasized Mr. Ban Ki-Moon’s call for youth to make their voices heard on the future they want for themselves.
About 170 participants were present, serving as delegates and officials in the UN General Assembly. They were drawn from various Universities in Ghana, Nigeria and Liberia and trained in the United Nations conference format and Rules of Procedure.
The delegates also worked on two of the General Assembly committees in coming out with resolutions that emphasized the importance of international partnerships, technology and scientific innovations towards sustainable developments. The sub-topics discussed included: “Protecting the Global Climate for current and future generations” and “Sustainable Social Development: its challenges and opportunities across the globe.” The 3-day conference was to gather momentum towards the Rio +20 this June in Rio de Janeiro and to enlighten the youth on the essence of sustainable development whilst highlighting the UN’s efforts.
At the closing ceremony, Ernest Gyimah-Danquah, Executive-Director of Life-Link Ghana, mentioned that Model UN was an avenue for much learning in a short time and delegates agreed. Ms. Joyce Okyerewaa Danso (representing Ireland) was adjudged the overall best delegate and she wins the unique opportunity for a Model UN involvement in the United States of America.
