In an effort to strengthen grassroots resilience and bolster crisis response capabilities, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ghana has conducted an intensive three-day capacity-building workshop for 65 local government staff in the Tempane District of the Upper East Region.
The training, which gathered participants from seven electoral areas and eight key local government departments—including Unit Committee members, Assembly Members, and Gender Desk Officers—was designed to equip local officials with tools to deliver essential services during emergencies and help build early warning and response systems against threats, conflict, and violent extremism.
The initiative forms part of the Preventive Approach to Protecting Development in the Gulf of Guinea (Preventive Facility) project, implemented alongside the Peace Council and funded by the governments of Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Republic of Korea through UNDP support.
Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Williams Adongo, Project Officer at UNDP, warned of the growing instability across West Africa, with violent extremism creeping southward from the Sahel. He stressed the need for local institutions to proactively safeguard development gains through strategic planning, community collaboration, and crisis preparedness.
“Strengthening local governments is crucial in building resilience against the spillover of violent extremism and ensuring communities remain stable and economically viable,” Mr. Adongo stated.
Mr. Joseph Abugre, Coordinating Director of the Tempane District, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of teamwork among district staff and stakeholders to meet community needs and reinforce peace efforts. He urged participants to apply the skills and knowledge acquired to protect the district’s development trajectory.
This latest training session complements earlier initiatives targeting women and youth in Tempane, reflecting the UNDP’s broader strategy to deepen community engagement and inclusion in peacebuilding under the Preventive Facility project.
As insecurity looms across West Africa’s borders, the Tempane District’s proactive investment in capacity building may become a model for local resilience and sustainable development in Ghana’s northern frontier.
