By Samuel Yaghr, Hamile, UW – June 5, 2025
A three-day capacity-building workshop aimed at empowering women as peacebuilders has taken place in the Lambussie Traditional Area of Ghana’s Upper West Region. The training, organized by the Upper West Regional Peace Council (UWRPC) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), brought together 50 women from June 2 to 4, 2025, in Hamile, Lambussie District.
The participants were drawn from diverse backgrounds, including traditional leaders, religious groups, persons with disabilities, and minority communities such as the Fulbe. The training sought to enhance the participants’ skills in peacebuilding, early warning systems, and conflict resolution.
Professor Samuel Marfo, who facilitated the sessions, led participants through key topics including conflict dynamics, identifying early warning signs, preventing radicalization, and effective mediation strategies. The training was highly interactive, featuring group discussions, role plays, and the development of community action plans. “Women are often the heartbeat of community peacebuilding. When empowered, they can prevent, mediate, and resolve conflict even better than some formal mechanisms,” said Prof. Marfo.
The workshop provided the women with practical tools for conflict mediation and resolution. Many pledged to form community-based women’s mediation committees to help address everyday disputes and promote peaceful coexistence. Participants also explored opportunities to advance agri-business and employment prospects for women and youth in the district.
Despite their enthusiasm, participants noted several challenges undermining peace efforts in the area. These included the porosity of border entry points, poor infrastructure, and persistent ethnic discrimination. Some highlighted disturbing social trends such as mothers discouraging their children from playing with those from other ethnic backgrounds, which they fear could fuel future conflicts. “These days, some mothers tell their children not to play with kids from certain ethnic groups. This plants seeds of future conflict,” one participant remarked.
To address these challenges, participants proposed community sensitization programs, inter-ethnic dialogues, and targeted infrastructure development. By the end of the training, three community-based action plans had been developed to tackle issues such as land disputes, inter-ethnic tensions, and youth radicalization. Many participants expressed renewed confidence in identifying early warning signs and applying non-violent strategies to resolve conflicts.
This workshop is part of a broader initiative titled “Boosting Women’s Economic Resilience and Inclusion in Decision-Making and Peacebuilding in Ghana.” Funded by the Governments of Denmark and Luxembourg, the project is implemented by UNDP in partnership with the National Peace Council and the Department of Gender. It seeks to tackle the root causes of low female participation in local governance and peace processes, challenge harmful gender norms, and promote women’s political and economic rights, particularly in the face of climate-induced shocks.
With their newly acquired knowledge and skills, the women of Lambussie are set to become catalysts for sustainable peace and inclusive development in their communities.
