Youth Crime Watch of America has appointed Benjamin Kwame Tawiah, a Ghanaian, as the first International Special Advisor for Africa. Youth Crime Watch of America is an international organistion, established to bring youth of all backgrounds together to identify and correct problems unique to their schools and communities. The programme of Youth Crime Watch of America is to empower youth to take an active role in addressing the problems around them.

Tawiah, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Youth Crime Watch of Ghana through the Ghana Police Service, won an International Extra Mile Award, recently in America.

Benjamin Kwame Tawiah aims at assisting his executive director, Terry Modglin, to establish Youth Crime Watch programme in about 40 African countries by the year 2010. As part of his initial plans, countries like, Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo, Burundi and Kenya, stand the chance of experiencing Youth Crime Watch programmes with the appropriate authorities soon.

Meanwhile, Tawiah is expected to send a comprehensive report to Washington later this year, for all interested countries in Sub-region, for consideration. And some of the things to be considered are security and crime, drugs and violence related cases, among the youth.

Youth Crime Watch of America (YCWA) assists students in developing youth-led programs which can encompass up to nine key components that encourage ?watch out? activities such as crime reporting and ?help out? activities such as mentoring or mediation. Our goals:

1. To provide crime-free, drug-free environments through a youth-led movement.

2. To instill positive values, foster good citizenship and build self-confidence in our young people.

3. To enable youth to become resources for preventing crime, drug use and violence in their schools and neighborhoods.

Currently Youth Crime Watch America has programmes in Brazil, Romania, Panama, Uruguay, Jamaica, Ghana, and Nigeria. And lots of requests have been received from Guyana, Canada, Slovenia, Bangladesh, Britain and Colombia regarding establishing YCW programmes.

Benjamin Kwame Tawiah is the host of a weekly radio talk show in Ghana finest radio station, Vibe 91.9FM, in the nation?s capital, Accra, and covers topics related to positive youth development and the skills needed for today?s youth to face the challenges of tomorrow.

He is currently working on a nationwide Youth Agricultural Camp Project with a goal of engaging Ghanaian youth in modernized farming.

Benjamin Kwame Tawiah is also serving on the Board of Youth Crime Watch of America, as the first African, to be appointed on the board. For more information about Youth Crime Watch programs, visit wwww.ycwa.org