By Albert Futukpor
Lewuriyiri (S/R), June 4, GNA – The Savannah Regional Peace Council has organised a community dialogue session at Lewuriyiri, a border community in the Saru Electoral Area of the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen local peacebuilding, social cohesion, and border security management.
The two-day dialogue brought together a broad range of stakeholders, including community leaders, traditional authorities, farmers, herders, women, youth representatives, security agencies, and other key actors to discuss emerging peace and security concerns affecting the area and to identify practical and sustainable solutions.
The initiative aimed at promoting community participation in early warning and early response mechanisms while strengthening peaceful coexistence among the diverse groups within the community.
Participants openly discussed several challenges, including recurring farmer-herder conflicts, inadequate access to social services, strained relations between sections of the community and traditional authorities, as well as concerns regarding the conduct of some security personnel.
A major highlight of the dialogue was the active participation of officers from the Ghana Immigration Service, who educated community members on border security management and the critical role residents play in supporting national security efforts.
The officers encouraged residents to cooperate with security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious activities and potential threats, and assured participants that allegations of extortion by personnel would be investigated through the appropriate channels.
Discussions further emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between farmers and herders to prevent recurring conflicts.
Participants proposed practical measures, including the establishment of cattle kraals, reduction in night grazing, and the organisation of regular dialogue sessions to strengthen relationships and address disputes before they escalate.
Community representatives expressed appreciation to the Savannah Regional Peace Council for the intervention and pledged their commitment to promoting peaceful coexistence and resolving disputes through dialogue, mediation, and mutual understanding.
A key outcome of the event was the establishment of a nine-member Local Peace Committee to serve as a community-based peace infrastructure.
The Committee will work closely with traditional authorities, state institutions, and the Savannah Regional Peace Council to address local peace and security concerns.
Members of the Committee will receive training to identify and respond to early warning signs of conflict, facilitate local dispute resolution, and maintain regular communication with the Regional Peace Council on emerging issues.
The establishment of the Local Peace Committee marks a significant step towards strengthening local ownership of peacebuilding efforts and enhancing the resilience of border communities against emerging security threats, including violent extremism, organised crime, and communal conflicts.
The Savannah Regional Peace Council reaffirmed its commitment to working with communities, traditional authorities, security agencies, civil society organisations, and development partners to promote sustainable peace, social cohesion, and human security across the region.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Writer: Albert Futukpor [email protected]