Ghana hosts conference on capacity for conflict resolution

Ghana is to host a sub-regional roundtable conference on Strengthening Regional Capacity for Conflict Resolution in West Africa: A Response to NEPAD, from October 23 to 25, 2002.

The Conference is to foster dialogue and consensus building within the sub-region on issues that border on conflict and security as well as mop up strategies for conflict prevention and resolutions, Dr Kwesi Aning, a Senior Researcher at the African Security Dialogue and Research (ASDR) told the GNA in an interview in Accra on Saturday.

Dr. Aning said the conference is being held in the aftermath of the G8 Summit in June 2002, where an African Action Plan was released in response to the NEPAD process.

He said the objectives of the conference are to deepen the responsiveness of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, in particular and other areas of democratic deficit in its operations.

It would coordinate ECOWAS' efforts in strengthening capacity for early warning and conflict prevention with respect to the sub-region and also support efforts to strengthen the interface between the United Nations Office and ECOWAS.

Dr Aning said topics for the three-day conference include an overview of the Security Situation in Sierra Leone with reference to the Mano River Union, West Africa Risk Assessment: Findings and Implications and ECOWAS and the Ivorian crisis.

Also, establishing a human security network for West Africa, engaging civil society in regional security structures and the NEPAD and Africa's Millennium.

The conference is being organised by ASDR in collaboration with the Liu Centre for the study of Global Issues in Vancouver, Canada.