Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the Savannah Region and beyond have received training in early warning and peacebuilding to strengthen their capacity to prevent and manage conflicts.
The initiative, jointly organised by NorthCode Ghana and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), comes at a critical moment following heightened tensions in Gbeniyiri, where recent clashes underscored the importance of conflict prevention.
The training built on earlier sessions in early 2025 on peacebuilding and conflict prevention, with this phase focusing specifically on early warning systems and how civil society can use them to identify and address potential conflicts before they escalate.
“Prevention of conflict is always better than managing its damage. Early warning is very important in conflict prevention,” said Andrew Yahaya Dokrugu, Technical Lead at NorthCode Ghana.
He explained that the workshop, organised under the KAPOK Project, brought together NGOs and community-based organisations from the Savannah, Northern, Upper East, and Upper West regions to share experiences and strengthen collaboration.
Expert Voices
Janet Adama Mahama, a Security Expert with WANEP, urged mediation commissions and stakeholders to listen carefully to all parties in conflict situations.
“The nominated members are professional people. My appeal is that they listen to all parties. Those of us working in the district are available to provide information if needed,” she said.
Samasi Ansman Swaye, WANEP’s Regional Analyst for Democracy and Governance, stressed the importance of collaboration.
“We cannot talk about peace without partnership. If there’s no peace in our communities, nobody is safe. Lasting peace requires collaboration at the community, local, and national levels,” he noted.
Mohammed Seidu, Executive Director of Choices-Ghana, described the training as an “eye-opener.”
“We are living on landmines—dangerous times. This program has opened our eyes to early warning signals we must not ignore. Civil society must network and respond to issues like youth unemployment, drug use, and resource-related conflicts to prevent escalation,” he said.
Building Strong Networks
According to organisers, the workshop was not only about capacity building but also peer learning. Participants shared experiences from their respective communities and explored how collective efforts could create stronger civil society networks capable of addressing conflicts across northern Ghana.
The training also highlighted that while threats exist, there are opportunities for peacebuilding through stronger CSO engagement, collaboration with the National Peace Council, and sustained donor support.
By Salifu Adams
