UE/R: SOCO PROJECT FACILITATORS URGED TO WORK HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT – DCE NABDAM
By – Sadat Dabo
The Upper East Regional Minister, Akamugri Donatus Atanga has commended security agencies and traditional authorities for maintaining three months of relative peace in Bawku, describing the fragile calm as a significant step toward lasting stability while calling for stronger collaboration between security personnel and the media
The Minister’s remarks were delivered on his behalf by the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Roland Atanga Ayoo, at the opening of a two-day dialogue for security personnel and media practitioners in Bolgatanga
The programme, running from September 7–8, is being organised by the National Peace Council with support from the Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Addressing participants, the Minister said the Bawku conflict demands more than the deployment of security personnel, stressing that sustainable peace requires professional leadership, sound intelligence, coordinated action, effective communication and an unwavering commitment to protecting lives and rebuilding public confidence
He praised the National Peace Council for bringing together security leaders to strengthen inter-agency cooperation and promote intelligence-led and problem-solving approaches to addressing the challenges in Bawku
The Minister paid special tribute to the security services and traditional leaders for their restraint, vigilance and commitment, which he said had contributed significantly to maintaining a ceasefire over the past three months
“While we recognise that the peace remains fragile, these three months of relative calm demonstrate what can be achieved when our security agencies, traditional authorities and other stakeholders work together in the interest of the people,” he said
He urged stakeholders to build on the gains made by transforming the current calm into a foundation for lasting peace, reconciliation, integration and stability
The Minister reminded heads of the security agencies that their conduct and decisions could either strengthen public trust or deepen mistrust, encouraging them to use the dialogue to openly share experiences, improve coordination and develop practical strategies for sustaining peace
He also highlighted the crucial role of the media, noting that effective security operations depend largely on public understanding and confidence
“We must strengthen communication, address misinformation and ensure that our interventions promote rather than undermine social cohesion and community confidence,” the speech stated
Reaffirming the commitment of the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, the Minister pledged continued support for the security services, the National Peace Council, traditional authorities, local communities and development partners in advancing peace and reconciliation in Bawku
The dialogue brings together security commanders, journalists, peacebuilding experts and other stakeholders to explore collaborative approaches to conflict prevention, peacebuilding and responsible communication in the Bawku area
Source – gbcuraonline.com
