The Upper East Regional Peace Council has taken note of disturbances in the region attributed to land disputes.
Additionally, the Council has expressed grave concerns about instability in the Sahel, particularly in the countries Ghana shares borders with. The Council has begun a series of engagements to sensitize stakeholders about the roles they need to play in addressing these concerns.
Chiefs in the Navrongo and Builsa Traditional Areas have been trained in this regard.
When the Executive Secretary of the Upper East Regional Peace Council, Ali Anankpieng, spoke to the media on the sidelines of the training, he mentioned that if traditional leaders are aware of the contents of the Land Act, they would be better equipped to play vital roles in resolving land disputes.
Additionally, if they are informed about the concerns within the Sahel, they would be better positioned to support security agencies in managing Ghana’s risks.
“We decided that if we get the chiefs and religious leaders together and help them understand these issues of land conflicts and violent extremism, they would be able to play a role in facilitating understanding and helping to reduce conflicts in their communities.”
“We focused on three main areas: ‘understanding violent extremism, radicalization, and their effects on economic activities’; ‘using early warning systems as a tool for preventing conflicts, both in terms of violent extremism and other communal disputes over land and chieftaincy’; and ‘the Land Act.'”
Mr. Anankpieng urged the chiefs to use their newfound knowledge to transform their communities.
The workshop was sponsored by the governments of Denmark, Norway, Germany, and Australia through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Approximately 50 participants, including traditional and religious leaders as well as women leaders from Doba, Natugnia, Navrongo, Pinda, and Manyoro, attended.
The Chief of Natugnia, Naba Anambono Ayamga, who spoke to the media, praised the relevance of the training and emphasized that it came at the right time. He noted that, thanks to the education on the Land Act, chiefs now understand the importance of documentation when it comes to the sale of land.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana