A conflict resolution agenda has been launched in Tamale with the view to securing lasting peace in the strife-prone areas of the three northern regions.
The programme, dubbed “promoting human security in northern Ghana”, would be implemented over a three-year period in 16 beneficiary communities of the four conflict areas such as Bawku in the Upper East Region, Wa in the Upper West Region and Yendi and Tamale in the Northern Region.
It is to be implemented with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the United Nations University (UNU).
The Japanese Government, through the UN Trust Fund for Human Security, is funding the programme at the cost of $3.053 million.
Among other things, the programme would adopt a multi-dimensional approach, which will focus on local capacity development, conflict prevention mechanism, income generation, food security and the human security concept.
Activities such as peace building and promotion of human security by recognising the complex relationships between poverty and conflict, as well as education and conflict prevention would be carried out in the beneficiary communities.
The Vice President, Mr John Mahama, who launched the programme, expressed optimism that northern Ghana would no longer be seen as a conflict area but would be known as a “model of peace, development and human security.”
“It is now in our hands to build and sustain peace for development and entrench human security as part of our national development effort,” the Vice President stated.
According to Mr Mahama, by establishing the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), the Government would embark on a series of co-ordinated development interventions to create sustainable employment, re-orient agriculture towards improving assets for the poor while adding value to basic food and economic tree crops.
He intimated that the programme was timely for Ghana in the light of the rekindled commitment to the holistic development of northern Ghana.
He expressed the country’s gratitude to the Japanese Government for its support, and expressed the hope that it would continue to assist the country in its quest to address human security challenges.
“Human security cannot be achieved unless the good people in Bawku, Wa, Yendi and Tamale are serious about ending conflicts and sustaining peace,” he stressed.
The Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme, Mr Daouda Toure, noted that research had shown a correlation between peace and development, and that “we need to be mindful of the fact that the poor economic situation which breeds poverty remains a threat to human security.”
“The Human Security programme has been built on a long tradition of UN support to northern Ghana,” he noted.
Mr Toure announced the commencement of a complementary Recovery Project for Northern Ghana, which would support national efforts at disaster management and response through enhancing national capacity to effectively plan, prevent and respond to the perennial disasters confronting the three northern regions.
“I am pleased that the initial support by the UN to create a platform for dialogue on a Northern Development Plan has paid off and we now have the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA),” he observed.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Nayina, said the programme would undoubtedly complement and enrich advocacy to strengthen the resolve to flush out avoidable issues of conflicts in the three northern regions
The Head of the Sustainable Livelihoods and Employment Creation Unit of the UNDP, Madam Christy Ahenkora Banya, who gave an overview of the programme, noted that the UN system in Ghana affirmed its commitment to support the Government of Ghana in promoting the development of northern Ghana.
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