Tempane: The United Nations Development Programme-Ghana (UNDP-Ghana) has organised a three-day capacity-building workshop for local government staff in the Tempane District of the Upper East Region to improve service delivery in crisis situations.
According to Ghana News Agency, the event gathered 65 participants from seven electoral areas and eight local government departments, including Unit Committee members, Assembly members, and Gender Desk officers. The training aimed to enhance the staff’s ability to deliver essential services during crises and bolster grassroots resilience against threats, conflict, and violent extremism. Additionally, it focused on strengthening social cohesion and early warning and response mechanisms.
The workshop is part of the Preventive Approach to Protecting Development in the Gulf of Guinea (Preventive Facility) project, implemented in collaboration with the Peace Council in border and cross-border communities in the Upper East and Savannah Regions. The initiative is funded by the governments of Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Republic of Korea through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Mr. Williams Adongo, Project Officer at UNDP, highlighted that the project responds to increasing threats of conflict and violence, exacerbated by instability and violent extremism from the neighbouring Sahel towards the Gulf of Guinea. He noted that these dynamics present significant security challenges to the region’s stability and development, underscoring the necessity to equip local government staff with strategic development plans that reflect community needs.
By building the capacity of local government staff, the expectation is to integrate strategic development initiatives aligned with medium-term development plans to enhance service delivery and economic resilience. Collaboration with key stakeholders is also anticipated to aid in preventing violent extremism.
Mr. Joseph Abugre, the Coordinating Director of the Tempane District, emphasized the importance of building local government staff capacity to foster collaboration and effectively address community demands while mitigating violent extremism threats. He commended the UNDP for the initiative and encouraged staff to apply their newly acquired knowledge to advance district development and build resilience against extremist activities.
This training complements previous sessions for women and youth in the Tempane District as part of broader efforts to increase their participation in peacebuilding initiatives under the Preventive Facility project.