The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the National Peace Council, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), officially launched the “Regional Election Early Warning and Response Group” (REEWARG) on Thursday August 11, 2016 at the Modern City Hotel in Tamale. This Group will be hosted by the Northern Regional Peace Council. The primary objective of the Group is to discuss, develop and recommend strategies to mitigate threats to the peaceful conduct of the 2016 elections at the regional level. At the launch, Most Reverend Phillip Naameh, Catholic Archbishop of Tamale and Chair of the Northern Regional Peace Council; Lt Colonel William Kwabiah, Army Commanding Officer, Northern Region; ASP Isaac Yeboah, Representative of the Northern Regional Police Commander; and USAID Representative, Ms. Nana Serwah Amoako, expressed commitment to support the Group’s efforts to strengthen early response to threats around the elections and reduce the potential for conflict.

The Group will convene stakeholders from around the region, including representatives from the Northern Regional Peace Council and prominent persons from relevant state and non-state institutions, to complement government efforts in the prevention and mitigation of election-related violence. Through WANEP’S extensive network of civil society organizations and appointed community monitors across the country, the group will be better placed to identify potential risks of election violence. If monitoring in a given area reveals a heightened risk of violence at any point in the election cycle, WANEP will develop recommendations on how it can be prevented, and will channel these recommendations to members of the REEWARG for immediate deliberation and action.

The eminent members of the Group will use their years of experience and influence to facilitate early response to conflict and early warning issues before they escalate into violence. Members of the Group will ensure that electoral conflict threats at the grassroots level receive immediate attention and response at the regional level. They will also provide direct input into the National Peace Council’s activities.

Speaking at the launch event, the U.S. representative, Nana Serwah Amoako noted Ghana’s strong democratic credentials. She said, “Ghana has been applauded for holding successful elections for many years; however, we must not be complacent, but remain vigilant of the risks of instability in the upcoming elections.”