At an inception workshop on the Peace Building Fund (PBF) project, Vida Diorotey, Wa West District Chief Executive (DCE), outlined the crucial link between peace and development.

Addressing the project's partners and stakeholders at the Wa West District Assembly in the Upper West Region, she asserted that without peace, development would be unattainable, urging communities to embrace peace at all times.

The workshop, held in Wechaiu, the district capital, saw three communities from the district participate.

The next day, a similar workshop was again organized in Gwollu in the Sissala West District, also involving three communities.

The two-year project, focusing on conflict prevention, is a joint initiative by the UNFPA and UNDP, with coordination support from the UN Resident Coordinator's office.

Its goal is to prevent and address the root causes of localized and spillover conflicts and vulnerabilities to violent extremism in Northern Ghana.

DCE Vida Diorotey highlighted the importance of peace for development in her speech, stating: "You all know that it is because of peace that we are all seated here. Without peace, you cannot even move out of your house. Wa West has been fortunate to be part of two districts in the region to benefit from this project. It is necessary because, without peace, you will forget about any development that may come to you. Places where there is war and conflict face significant challenges in development; hence, the need to embrace peace in our communities."

In an interview, the National Gender Analyst at UNFPA, who also doubles as the focal person from UNFPA, Salina Owusu, explained the purpose of the workshop, which she indicated is to engage stakeholders in the implementation of the project while gathering their views on shaping the project for expected outcomes.

"The idea is that due to the crises in the Sahel regions and the influx of immigrants into the country, tensions in communities in Northern Ghana are increasing. We are working in the Upper West, Upper East, and North East regions to bring everyone on board through dialogue and use their voices to prevent these tensions and violence," Salina stated.

She also emphasized the importance of conflict prevention, especially in an election year, noting: "We know that conflict, whether you are part of it or not, has repercussions on everybody the moment it starts. This is a farming area; if there is conflict, people cannot even come out of their houses to do their day-to-day activities."

Rita Nyarko, the focal person for the implementation partner at the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council, observed that women and youth play a critical role in maintaining and promoting peace.

She noted that the project would expose them to the potential impact of conflict on their lives and how they can promote peace in their communities as the election approaches.

The project, themed "Enhancing Social Cohesion and Social Contract through Empowerment of Women and Youth in the Three Northern Regions," namely the Upper West, Upper East, and North East, aims to foster peace and stability.

Implementing partners include state institutions and ministries such as the National Peace Council, the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Gender, and various civil society organizations.

The UNFPA and UNDP are implementing the project in partnership with representatives of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) and ProNet North in the Upper West Region.