ActionAid Ghana’s Upper East Regional Office is raising concerns about recurring issues of conflict in some parts of the region as the office is calling for intensified efforts to address the increasing pockets of violence and threats.
According to a Program Officer at the Upper East Office, Yakubu Akuka, these pockets of conflict mar the relative peace and low crime rate the region largely enjoys.
He noted that recurring concerns as a result of chieftaincy and land-related issues coupled with the threats of terrorism are crucial and require urgent and sustained efforts to resolve.
Speaking at a regional youth campaign for peace and security organized by Activista Ghana, Upper East Regional chapter, under the theme: “The role of the youth as agents of peace and security”, Mr. Akuka says the youth have a significant role to play in promoting peace and security and must therefore, be actively engaged in promoting peace and conflict resolution.
The campaign and forum on peace had in attendance, young people from various districts including Kassena Nankana, Bolgatanga, and Bawku Municipalities as well as Nabdam, Talensi, and Bawku West districts and had in attendance, representatives from the Regional Secretariat of the National Peace Council, the National Youth Authority, political parties including the NDC, NPP, CPP and PNC who all took turns to address the gathering.
Mr. Akuka said these threats if left unresolved, impact negatively on the development of the region and the socio-economic well-being of the people.
“The Upper East region though we can say is relatively peaceful, we cannot deny that there have been some security challenges as some parts of the region experience recurring ethnic, land, or chieftaincy disputes coupled with the threat of violent extremism along the border areas. These concerns are quite crucial and need to be addressed as they impact negatively on the development of the region and the socio-economic lives of the people in general.
Mr. Chairman, the youth have a significant role to play in fostering peace and security and therefore should actively be engaged in shaping lasting peace and economic prosperity.”
The Regional Coordinator of Activista Upper East Chapter, Nicholas Azebire, urged the various stakeholders to streamline mining in the region to give the youth decent jobs adding challenges of feeding in senior high schools should be addressed since it has the potential of sparking conflict.
