Development partners urged to help promote human security

Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur on Wednesday called on development partners to intensify their working relationship with Ghana to promote human security in areas that might undermine successes made so far.

“We should use experiences and lessons learnt from this human security programme in Northern Ghana to further promote human security in other parts of the country,” he added.

The vice president made the call in a speech read for him at the opening of a two-day human security conference on the theme: “Enhancing Human Security through developing local capacity for holistic community-based conflict prevention in Northern Ghana”.

The four-year programme, which started in 2009, will end by close of May 2013. It supported areas such as local capacity development, conflict prevention mechanism, income generation/job creation, food, health and nutrition security as well as mainstreaming and advocating the human security concept.

The programme supported 19 communities in Bawku, in Upper East Region, Wa in Upper West Region and Tamale and Yendi in the Northern region.

It was put together by UNDP, UNICEF, UNIDO, Food and Agricultural Organisation, World Health Organisation, World Food Programme and the United Nations University.

The conference, which was to climax the programme in Ghana, was focused on evolving concepts, approaches and practices that addressed challenges associated with human security.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur noted that Ghana has claimed ownership of the programme and had already strategised through incorporation of human security.

He outlined some interventions by government and its support in ensuring that “together, we promote peace and development”.

Nikai Naoto, Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, expressed concern about the insecurity activities that threatened to undermine the peace, security and developmental gains that have already been established.

He pledged Japan’s commitment to addressing insecurity of the people and supporting developmental efforts.