Chieftaincy, land and farmer-herder related issues have been identified as major causes of localised conflicts in some parts of the Upper East Region.
Many communities across the region continue to have unresolved land and chieftaincy issues and the emergence of herders posed significant challenges that threatened Ghana’s peace and stability.
Stakeholders at different fora at Bongo, Bawku West and Garu Districts indicated that the lack of clear succession plan for the chieftaincy institution, undocumented ownership of lands and interactions between farmers and herders continued to breed conflicts in some communities.
The situation is not only leading to loss of lives and property but is threatening the country’s peace, social cohesion and exposing the region to violent extremists.
The stakeholders included traditional and religious leaders, community opinion leaders, women and youth groups, among others.
The fora were organised by the Upper East Regional Peace Council as part of the “Enhancing Social Cohesion and Social Contract through Empowering Women and Youth in Northern Ghana,” project.
It is being rolled out in selected communities in the Bawku West, Garu and Bongo Districts in the Upper East Region.
The project is being funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The project aims to equip the stakeholders with the conflict management and resolution skills such as mediation, negotiation and dialogue, among others to help address localised conflicts.
Mr Ali Anankpieng, the Executive Secretary of the Upper East Regional Peace Council, said engagement and dialogue were major mechanisms to prevent and resolve conflicts, especially at the local level.
He said conflicts had retarded development in so many communities and underscored the need for stakeholders to work together to address the challenges to enhance social cohesion for sustainable development.
