Two UN Agencies in Ghana – UNDP and UNFPA launch new project to addressing vulnerabilities among women and youth in Northern Ghana.

The United Nations Resident Co-ordinator in Ghana, Charles Abani has reiterated the UN’s determination to support Ghana to remain peaceful. According to him, Ghana as one of the stable democracies – the second best in Africa, it was essential to nurture the atmosphere of peace through conflict prevention to enabling sustainable development to be achieved.

Mr. Abani made the remark in a speech he delivered in Tamale during the project Launch of “Enhancing social cohesion and social contract, through the empowerment of women and youth in three Northern regions of Ghana.” The Two year project is under the Peace Building Fund (PBF) project of the United Nations.

Two UN agencies; the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) are leading the project with the government of Ghana, through the national Security Ministry, the National Peace Council, the respective Regional Co-ordinating Councils in Upper East, Upper West and North East as well as CSOs such as WANEP, PPAG among others playing key roles in the delivery.

According to the UN Resident Co-ordinator, Charles Abani “it is the first time Ghana is benefiting from the UN Peace building Fund” because the argument has been – Ghana is largely peaceful, however he added that recent developments in the Sahel, makes it compelling to adopting prevention mechanisms to address vulnerabilities issues and any spillover effects.

Among others Mr. Abani mentioned Climate change, illegal mining also known as Galamsey as drivers of conflicts. Additionally there is a surge in small arms production locally and these may feed the growing demand. The UN Resident Co-ordinator stressed that there should be ownership commitment to addressing these vulnerabilities on the ground.

Mr Abani urged that there should be interconnections in sustainable livelihoods and development programs since working in silos may result to replication of activities or little would be achieved.

Dr. Angela Lusigi the Resident Representative of the UNDP on her part, said the two year project was a blueprint for a future where every woman and young person has the power to counteract violence with peace and extremism with unity as it addresses the root causes of localized and spillover conflicts and vulnerabilities to violent extremism in order to keep Ghana’s democracy and peace strong.

The Country representative, UN Population Fund, Dr. Wilfred Ochan, is an address said with a growing youthful population who idle-by; the project will thus help in building capacities and the resilience of such key populations so that they can also help in national development instead of becoming instruments of violence.

Ambassador Sena Siaw-Boateng, who is the chief Director at the National Security Ministry, talked for efforts been undertaken by the ministry to ensure that human security as well as national security is not compromised. These include provision of projects such as roads, schools, toilets among others to various communities across the country.

Deputy Minister of Interior, Naana Eyiah who also spoke at the launch of the project urged all Ghanaians to commit to peaceful co-existence adding that “even as the country goes into its 9th election, of our leaders, we should come out united in order to developing our country,” she emphasized.”

Earlier the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu on behalf of the regional coordinating councils in the Upper West, Upper East and North East regions who are the indirect beneficiaries, commended the efforts of developmental partners such as the United Nations Systems in Ghana for their roles towards making the country thrive.

The project – Enhancing social cohesion and social contract, through the empowerment of women and youth in three Northern regions of Ghana, focuses on preventing and addressing the root causes of localized and spillover conflicts as well as vulnerabilities to violent extremism in Northern Ghana. It primarily targets women and youth in Sissala west, Wa west, Bongo and Bawku West as well as Bunprogu-Nakpanduri, Yunyo- Nasuan and Chereponi Districts.

Story By: Nyadror Adanuti Nelson |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana.