As a result of the project, some community members and local representatives in the Garu, Bongo, and Bawku West Districts have reported renewed trust in local authorities, improved citizen engagement, and strengthened social ties.

The project, “Enhancing social cohesion and social contract through the empowerment of women and youth in three Northern Regions of Ghana,” is jointly implemented by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), RISE-Ghana, CARO, and SIMBA Ghana.

It is funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Through a series of innovative, community-driven interventions, the project is addressing the root causes of local conflicts and vulnerabilities to violent extremism.

The project employs strategic communication via radio and social media campaigns, town hall engagements, youth parliaments, and a mentorship programme, among other approaches, to build trust and increase citizen participation in governance.

“Before the project, it was difficult to bring constituents together or explain our limitations as Assembly Members. Now, thanks to the radio programmes, people understand our roles better and are reaching out to engage us. It has brought clarity and opened communication lines,” said Mr Elvis Nyaaba, the Assembly Member for Bongo-Feo in the Bongo District.

Citizens also welcomed the town hall sessions, saying they had brought technocrats from various district departments directly to rural communities and created opportunities for residents to interact with authorities.

“Considering the far location of the district assembly, there was no way our community could get an opportunity to listen to the various departments there. Seeing them all here and having the opportunity to ask them about their work and critique it makes us feel involved as citizens. The organizers must be commended,” said Madam Amina Abugre, a resident of Kupela in Bawku West.

The project has also revitalised civic structures such as youth parliaments. In the Garu District, a Youth Parliament was inaugurated for the first time, giving young people a formal platform to engage in local governance and mobilise for peace across political and ethnic divides.

In addition, a mentorship programme pairing youth and women with experienced leaders from politics, local government, civil society, and the business community has begun breaking down barriers to participation and leadership.

“Some people who wanted to aspire to become Assembly Members were discouraged by the constant demands placed on them. But after joining the mentorship programme, this project has shed more light on our local governance, and we are now ready to support our local governance machinery to function,” said Madam Sakina Adam, a youth mentee from Denugu in the Garu District.