MOC initiative launched in the Western Region - WANEP

Takoradi, June 20, GNA - The Ghana Alert Project, an initiative to promote effective collaboration and coordination on conflict prevention and transformation, has introduced 93Mitigating Oil Conflict" (MOC) concept as part of their project in the Western Region.

Mr Justin Bayor, National Network Coordinator of the West Africa Network for Peace building, Ghana (WANEP-Ghana), the implementing body at a day's regional interface meeting with stakeholders noted that the oil find places a daunting responsibility on the region especially with the influx of people from other regions.

He said the conflict situation in Ivory Coast which closely shares border with the region is also another factor for detecting any "early warning systems (EWS)" with a broad framework to promoting peace, security and development.

The MOC initiative is therefore to reduce the incidence of conflict by creating a regional chapter and ensuring maximum grassroots ownership and participation.

Mr Bayor said the MOC initiative would also help in strengthening transparency and accountability in the country.

The interface meeting recognized-Sefwi Wiawso, Egyambra, Bamiankor, Bonyere and Teliko-Bokazo as some of the conflict prone areas in the region with some associated security threats such as pollution of water bodies, influx of refugees from ivory coast, chieftaincy conflicts and armed robbery.

The MOC initiative would therefore include activities such as radio discussions, training of media personnel, staff of the various district assemblies and security services.

Mr Bayor noted that there would also be orientation on the EWS and response for the monitoring team that would be established in the various communities identified as conflict prone areas. He said the EWS was one key strategy employed by the Network to gather information for prompt mitigation with the view of reducing the occurrence of violence. Peace building according to Mr Bayor, entailed a relationship building and it therefore required a collective and collaborative effort of all stakeholders in order to achieve the desired objectives.