U.S. provides $75,000 to renovate the Upper East Regional Peace Council Office

Bolgatanga, GHANA – The United States Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) has provided $75,000 (1,162,000 Ghana Cedis) to renovate the Upper East Regional Peace Council (UERPC) office. The UERPC works to promote peace and stability in the region by addressing conflicts through dialogue, mediation, and other non-violent conflict resolution methods.

Receiving the keys to the office on July 25, the Secretary of the UERPC Ali Anankpieng, noted that the new space would significantly support their work, “Now we have a conference room to facilitate meetings and sensitive discussions without disruptions. We also have privacy and a secure working area.”

The renovated space comprising three offices, a reception area, a storage room, a kitchen, and a conference room, will improve working conditions for the UERPC staff and support their peacebuilding efforts by providing a venue for meetings, dialogues, and mediations.

“The successful completion of this project underscores the United States’ commitment to promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development in Ghana and West Africa.” Said USAID/OTI Deputy Country Representative Dalia Haj-Omar, regarding the office renovation and hand-over.

“Since 2021, USAID/OTI has supported the UERPC to address pressing peace and security challenges in the region, including bringing together disputing groups for mediation and dialogue, and establishing multi-ethnic mediation committees to resolve conflicts and prevent violence”, she added.

The United States is Ghana’s largest bilateral development partner and supports efforts to promote regional security, broad-based inclusive economic development, and long-term development relationships.

About USAID

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the lead U.S. government agency working to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. USAID’s activities and strategic partnerships in Ghana promote accountability, sustainable systems, and inclusive development. Through partnerships and investments, USAID saves lives, reduces poverty, strengthens democratic governance, and helps people emerge from humanitarian crises and progress beyond assistance.

About OTI

The USAID Office of Transition Initiatives partners with local actors to target key political issues such as conflict, democratic backsliding, counterterrorism, and stabilization, delivering high-impact programming in fast-paced contexts. In coordination with USAID Missions and U.S. Embassies, OTI programs, funding, and technical services focus on social, communal, and political aspects of crises and political transition.

About the Regional Peace Councils (RPCs)

RPCs are independent statutory national peace institutions established by an Act of Parliament in 2011 to prevent, manage, and resolve conflict and to build sustainable peace. The RPCs are decentralized arms of Ghana’s National Peace Council, to promote peace and prevent conflicts in all 16 regions of Ghana. Under the National Framework for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism (NAFPCVET), RPCs support programs to build resilience against violent extremism and terrorism.