TAMALE: Coginta Ghana, an organization dedicated to conflict prevention and peacebuilding, has donated 20 motorbikes to regional partners to improve rapid response capabilities in land and conflict management across vulnerable communities in Ghana. The motorbikes, valued at over one million Ghana Cedis, are intended to aid Regional Peace Councils and Customary Land Secretariats in managing land disputes and fostering peace, particularly in the northern border regions. According to Ghana News Agency, Reverend Father Clement Aapengnuo, the Country Director of Coginta Ghana, emphasized the critical need for swift responses in conflict zones during a ceremony in Tamale where the motorbikes were handed over to representatives of the beneficiary institutions. He highlighted that access to transport is a significant challenge in many hotspots, and the motorbikes will enable partners to reach affected areas more quickly, facilitating timely interventions to prevent the escalation of disputes. The donation is part o f Coginta Ghana's efforts under the PEACE PROTECT project, an 18-month initiative funded by the European Union aimed at bolstering national peace actors in the northern border regions. Reverend Father Aapengnuo noted that the project has enhanced the National Peace Council's early warning and response mechanisms by establishing and building the capacity of Local Peace Committees in 25 hotspots across the five northern border regions. Additionally, Peace Centres are planned for the hotspots to sustain peace efforts, and Coginta Ghana is supporting the Ghana Police Service in implementing its Community Policing Strategy in these conflict-prone areas. The project also includes grants for 20 civil society organizations to promote gender equality and social cohesion while raising awareness on community policing to build trust between the police and citizens. Reverend Father Thaddeus Kuusah, Executive Secretary of the Northern Regional Peace Council, expressed gratitude for the support, stating that the donation significantly enhances their ability to respond swiftly to conflicts, particularly in remote areas. Mr. Mohammed Adam Gariba, Registrar of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs, acknowledged the prevalence of land disputes in communities and noted that the motorbikes will facilitate field visits to better understand issues on the ground.