The Chairman of the Upper East Regional Peace Council, Alhaji Sumaila Issaka, has called on media practitioners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to safeguard Ghana’s peace, stressing that preserving the country’s stability is a shared national responsibility.
He made the call at the opening of a two-day capacity training workshop for 33 journalists across the region, organised by FactSpace West Africa in partnership with UNICEF and supported by UNESCO through the IPDC EMBRACE Project.
Quoting former President John Dramani Mahama’s address to the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, Alhaji Issaka said peace is rooted in respect for human dignity, equality and rights.
“If people choose to protect each other’s dignity, assert their equality, defend their humanity and safeguard their rights, there will always be peace,” he said.
Alhaji Issaka acknowledged that disagreements are inevitable in every society but cautioned that unresolved disputes can escalate into violence and conflict.
According to him, while government institutions have established mechanisms for responding to conflicts, sustainable peace requires deliberate engagement with influential actors and affected communities to address the underlying causes of disputes.
He commended UNESCO for supporting peacebuilding initiatives through its International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) EMBRACE Project, which is being implemented in partnership with FactSpace West Africa.
The Regional Peace Council Chairman encouraged participants to apply the knowledge acquired during the workshop in their respective communities, describing their role as critical to sustaining peace in the Upper East Region and Ghana as a whole.
Referencing President John Dramani Mahama’s remarks during the 2025 National Day of Prayer, Alhaji Issaka reminded participants that although Ghana continues to be regarded as an oasis of peace within a continent facing conflicts and instability, the country’s peaceful reputation should never be taken for granted.
“The peace we enjoy as a nation must not be taken for granted. Every effort at building and consolidating peace is a national assignment, even when undertaken at the local level,” he said.
He urged all journalists to cooperate fully with the organisers and embrace their roles as ambassadors of peace, expressing confidence that the workshop would strengthen ongoing efforts to promote peaceful coexistence throughout the region.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Gerard Asagi | Bolgatanga
