{"id":2114,"date":"2026-05-26T06:36:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T06:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmediagh.com\/?p=2114"},"modified":"2026-05-30T07:06:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T07:06:47","slug":"upper-west-regional-peace-council-counters-hate-speech-and-promoting-positive-narrative-in-the-sissala-west-communities-through-community-outreach-and-durbar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmediagh.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/26\/upper-west-regional-peace-council-counters-hate-speech-and-promoting-positive-narrative-in-the-sissala-west-communities-through-community-outreach-and-durbar\/","title":{"rendered":"Upper West Regional Peace Council Counter\u2019s Hate Speech And Promoting Positive Narrative In The Sissala West Communities Through Community Outreach And Durbar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Upper West Region of Ghana has long been characterized by strong communal ties, interfaith coexistence, and relative peace. However, evolving security dynamics along the Atlantic Corridor and Ghana\u2019s proximity to the Sahelian belt have increased the risk of spillover effects related to violent extremism (VE), radicalization, and organized crime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These risks are exacerbated by the growing prevalence of hate speech, misinformation, inflammatory rumors and divisive narratives, often spread through informal networks, social media, and community radio platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n

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In Sissala East Municipality and Sissala West District, socio-economic vulnerabilities particularly among youth and women create fertile ground for the manipulation of grievances and the spread of extremist or violent narratives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Upper West Regional Peace Council (UWRPC), as part of its mandate to promote peace, social cohesion, and conflict prevention, organized a series of one-day community outreach and durbar at\u00a0 Kupulima and Puzene communities in the Sissala West District under the theme: \u201cPromoting Peaceful Coexistence: Countering Hate Speech and Building Positive Narratives.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These activities were conducted under the \u201cPreventing and Responding to Violent Extremism in the Atlantic Corridor\u201d dubbed the Atlantic Corridor Project<\/em><\/strong> with funding support from the Governments of Norway and\u00a0 Denmark through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)<\/p>\n\n\n

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The activities which took place on the 13th<\/sup> and 14th<\/sup> of May, 2026 at Kupulima R\/C Basic School and Chief Palace for Puzene Community respectively, aimed at creating awareness on the harmful effects of hate speech, misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information while promoting peaceful dialogue, tolerance, responsible communication, and positive community narratives.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The outreach brought together traditional authorities, women groups, youth groups, opinion leaders, religious leaders, assembly members, and other community stakeholders to discuss practical ways of promoting positive narratives and preventing conflict within their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The activities highlighted the  strength in promoting community-based alternative and counter-narratives messaging particularly in preventing hate speech, violence, and violent extremism in selected communities of Sissala Sissala West District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Regional Executive Secretary catalogued  key objectives of the outreach programme including :<\/p>\n\n\n\n