The DPAN, which is composed of 30 members drawn from minority, ethnic, youth groups and traditional and religious bodies from the Nanumba North and Nanumba South Assemblies, is also to work collaboratively with peace agencies such as the security agencies to ensure that people do not take the law into their hands.

Members of the DPAN have been trained on gender sensitive conflict management, negotiation skills and peacebuilding amongst others to help ensure peaceful resolution of conflicts.

The launch of the DPAN formed part of the "Empowering Peace and Inclusive General Election in Nanung" project being implemented by SEND GHANA, a civil society organization, from August, 2019 to February, 2020 with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.

The project seeks to promote peace and reconciliation in Nanung by enhancing the capabilities of DPAN in the area that were previously established by SEND GHANA to collaborate with the District Security Councils in the area to ensure a conflict free and inclusive general election next year.

Chieftaincy disputes in parts of the Nanung traditional area occasionally lead to conflicts and deaths, especially during political electioneering period.

The Bimbilla Township is currently under a 10pm to 4am curfew as result of a protracted chieftaincy dispute in the area.

These amongst others have necessitated the project to ensure peace before, during and after the 2020 general elections.

Madam Janet Adama Mohammed, Board Chairman of SEND GHANA, who spoke during the launch of the DPAN at Bimbilla in the Nanumba North Municipality, advised members of the DPAN to remain non-political in the discharge of their duties to ensure peace and stability in the area.

Mr Abdulai Yaquob, Nanumba North Municipal Chief Executive, called on members of the DPAN "to apply themselves diligently to the work they have voluntarily agreed to do, so that the objectives of the project would be achieved".

Mr Yaquob said "we cannot pretend that the protracted chieftaincy and ethnic disputes in Nanung have not negatively affected the course of development of the area" and expressed the need for all in the area to choose the path of peace to accelerate the development of the area.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Evans Vorvor, Bimbilla District Police Commander, urged members of the DPAN to quickly inform the security agencies when they pick signals of anything that could disturb the peace of the area for immediate action.

Miss Alicia Sosa, Second Secretary for Development at the Canadian High Commission, expressed the hope that members of the DPAN would put what they learnt into practice to promote peace in the area.

Mr Amadu Majeed, member of the DPAN from Wulensi in the Nanumba South District, pledged to work hard to promote dialogue amongst the people to ensure that the 2020 general election would be inclusive and violent free in the area.