Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Peacebuilding in Ghana

by
Abdul Karim Issifu
akissifu@gmail.com
Research Assistant, Institute for Development Studies,
University of Cape Coast, Ghana
Ghana is among the few African countries that have not experienced any form of large-scale
violence or civil war since independence in March 1957. This is why the country has often been
described at both local and the international levels as an oasis of peace and stability in a continent
besieged by conflicts. Hence, Ghana is considered one of the most peaceful countries in West
Africa, especially, having witnessed the most peaceful political transition in 1992 following the
acceptance of democracy. In addition, the peaceful organisation of the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012
general elections has made Ghana a beacon of hope for democracy, good governance, stability and
peace in Africa. Aside the peaceful atmosphere enjoyed in Ghana, it has also sought to play an
active role in resolving conflicts and keeping peace in the West Africa sub region. For instance,
Ghana has been at the forefront of peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Also, the Ghana Armed
Forces have been instrumental in peacekeeping assignments in Rwanda, Lebanon and Cambodia.
Apart from that, Ghana has allowed and hosted a significant number of refugees from war shattered
West African states, including refugees from Liberia and Cote dIvoire. It is for this and other
reasons why the American Fund for Peace in 2009 described Ghana as the most peaceful and stable
country in Africa.
In spite of the international peace acclamation, praises and democracy in the country, Ghana is
faced with pockets of relative violence, emanating from ethnic violence, resource based conflict,
religious violence, chieftaincy disputes and political mayhem that has claimed many lives, and
destroyed several properties. For example, in 2002 alone, several people were murdered in the
Dagbon chieftaincy conflict, including the King, Na Ya. In effect, the government of Ghana spent
over seven billion Cedis (US $9 million) to maintain the fragile peace in Dagbon. Also, the
Konkomba and Nanumba, and the Dagomba verses Nanumba conflicts in 1994/95 for instance,
resulted in the loss of 2000 lives and 18,900 animals, including over 500,000 tubers of yam
destroyed, 60,000 acres of crops set on fire. Additionally, 144 farming villages were burnt, as well
as 78,000 people displaced and millions of property belonging to the state and indigenes destroyed
because of the conflict. Therefore, there is no denying the fact that, although Ghana is described
as a peaceful country, violence occurs time-to-time involving various protagonists, which are
ethnic, religious, economic and political in nature.
In an effort to help ensure sustainable peace in violent prone communities in Ghana, the role of
the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) via peacebuilding agenda cannot be overemphasised.
Thus, CSOs have been instrumental in ensuring some level of stability in conflict-shattered areas,
especially in northern Ghana where a number of post-independence challenges have conspired to
create pockets of relative instability and armed conflict.

Published by ModernGhana
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The government of Ghana in a bid to resolve some of the conflicts end up prolonging it, due to the
perceptions of some feuding parties about the governments position in the conflict.
The situation tends to make CSOs the preferred option for peace mediation in the country.
Therefore, many of the conflicts in Ghana have often had to involve the mediation efforts of
CSOs/Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to end them since factions often perceive the
government not as neutral. Obviously, in cases where the CSOs intervened, stability prevailed. In
fact, their role is particularly unique since they are often seen by factions in a conflict as very
neutral and trustworthy. A typical example is the joint efforts of the Permanent Peace Negotiation
Team (PPNT) and the Nairobi Peace Initiative (NPI) in Ghana. Thus, the PPNT made up of a
consortium of NGOs and the NPI helped to resolve the long-standing ethnic conflicts between the
Konkomba and Nanumba/Dagomba and Gonja and Nawari/Konkomba in northern Ghana.
Furthermore, when it was finally realised that the 1994 Nanumba-Konkomba war had engulfed
most areas of northern Ghana, including parts of the Brong-Ahafo and the Volta regions, the PPNT
ensured that the conflict did not escalate into violence in those areas. In addition, the effort by
these two agencies ensured the Kumasi-Accord signed on 30th March 1996, between Dagombas
on one hand, and Komkonbas and Nanumbas on the other. Also the Accord was signed between
Komkonbas and Nawuris, between Gonjas and Komkonbas and lastly between Gonjas and Basaris
all by the initiatives of PPNT and the NPI. Even though the Nawuris refused to sign any agreement
with the Gonjas, at least they recognised the fact that there were differences between them and the
Gonjas. This could be the reason why there has not been any war between the Nawuris and the
Gonjas since 1995.
The tremendous roles by the CSOs in conflict resolution and peacebuilding has made it an
important partner in contemporary global peace efforts. Specifically, the cases of the Bawku
chieftaincy conflict, Dagbon chieftaincy conflict and the Alavanyo-Nkonya land dispute, where
the government on several occasions intervened to restored peace, but failed, due to the perceptions
of being biased against one or more of the warring parties, it was the CSOs that intervened to
achieved results. For example, when (Action Aid Ghana, WANEP, Advocacy Peace Group - IBIS,
Catholic Relief Services, etc.,) in the Bawku chieftaincy conflict and the (FOMWAG, UNDP,
Community Life Improvement Programme (CLIP) and Ghana Danish Community Association,
Committee of four Eminent Chiefs led by Otumfuo, etc.,) in the Dagbon chieftaincy conflict
intervened, they helped to ensure relative peace in the area. In addition, when (Gender and
Development Office of the Catholic Diocese of Ho, the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church,
Paramount chiefs, National Peace Council, Consultative Committees of the Nkonya-Alavanyo, the
Catholic Relief Service, UNDP, etc.,) also intervened in the Alavanyo-Nkonya land dispute they
helped to build peace and in some cases prevented the conflict from escalating to other areas.
Hence, what is recommended in this article is for CSOs in a collaborative manner involve all
stakeholders in peacebuilding, especially government agents, politicians and political party leaders
in its pragmatic mediation efforts and peace processes relevant for disabusing the negative
thoughts about them (government) as not been neutral in handing mediation issues by factions in
the conflict. In so doing, the government having the adequate resource than most of the CSOs
could help ensure sustainable peace in a timely manner.

Published by ModernGhana
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