By: Murtala Issah
The United States Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has donated two vehicles to the National Peace Council. The vehicles are to aid the Northern and Savannah Regional Peace Councils in their mediation activities.
The Northern and Savannah Regions are considered as vulnerable regions in terms of peace and security. The two regions experience frequent conflicts including chieftaincy, ethnic and land disputes.
The Regional Peace Councils have over the years, played pivotal roles in mediating in these conflicts, however, transportation remains a major challenge for these councils.
The two 2016 Nissan Pathfinders are therefore aimed at providing the regional councils with the mobility they need to mediate local conflicts when necessary and deliver training to chiefs and other community members in alternative dispute resolution to enable them to resolve conflicts within their own communities.
The initiative is part of a larger effort to prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts, as well as foster social unity and sustainable peace in Northern Ghana.
The USAID Mission Director, Kimberly A. Rosen, USAID emphasized the importance of the collaboration between the USAID and the National Peace Council. She highlighted the fruitful partnership between the agency, the National Peace Council (NPC), and the two regional Peace Councils in promoting peaceful conflict resolution in northern Ghana., adding that, these objectives align with the US government’s strategy to prevent conflict and promote stability.
“USAID is committed to promoting peace in Northern Ghana. Through our joint efforts, we’ve been strengthening local communities and traditional authorities, promoting social cohesion, and preventing conflict. The work of the Northern Regional Peace Council, in collaboration with the Dagbon Traditional Council, is a testament to our dedication to peace and development in this region,” said Rosen at the handover.
The Executive Secretary of the Northern Regional Peace Council, Father Thaddeus Kuusah comended the US government for the support.
“A lot of our activities are situated outside the metropolis, especially the Eastern Corridor districts where the toad network is terrible. The donation is timely as our workload has increased. First because of the social cohesion activities we are doing in the Eastern Corridor and secondly because election 2024 is approaching. We have started serious engagement, so that we are not taken by events,” he explained. He appealed for more of such support to enhance the work of the peace council.
The USAID, has in recent times supported the Northern Regional Peace Council to build the capacity of local and traditional authorities and citizens, fostering resilience and social cohesion, and encouraging locally-led solutions to conflict and violence prevention. The USAID also recently collaborated with the Northern Regional Peace Council and the Dagbon Traditional Council to revise the Dagbon constitution from 1930, fortifying traditional governance and providing a roadmap for chieftaincy succession in the Dagbon Traditional Area.
