In the lead-up to Ghana’s 2024 general elections, concerns around the potential for violence and instability in conflict-prone regions, especially Northern Ghana, were profound. With proximity to volatile borders, ethnic tensions, and resource-based conflicts, the stakes were high.

However, through the Security in Northern Ghana (SING III) Project, some local organizations—SAVE Ghana, Young Peace Ambassadors, Belim Wusa Development Agency (BEWDA), Peace for Life Ghana, and Social Initiative for Literacy and Development Programme (SILDEP) —stepped up to foster peaceful electoral processes and strengthen democracy from the grassroots.

Their work collectively contributed to calming tensions, promoting inclusive participation, and building early warning systems to prevent election-related violence.

Electoral periods are often marked by heightened emotions, misinformation, and political manipulation. Through community sensitizations and media engagements, the five organisations helped demystify the electoral process and encouraged peaceful political engagement.

Peace for Life Ghana (PFL) rolled out peace education sessions in Walewale, targeting youth and religious groups. Using culturally resonant dialogue and storytelling, they emphasized tolerance and the dangers of politically motivated violence. “We saw the need to make youth see that their power lies in their vote, not violence,” said Alhassan Mutawakilu., Director of PFL Ghana.

Similarly, Young Peace Ambassadors (YPA) activated youth peace clubs in Bunkpurugu that held pre-election debates, peer education forums, and drama skits focusing on nonviolence, especially on election day. One youth leader Abdul Yusif, shared, “We used to think elections were a fight for our parties. Now we see it as a collective responsibility to maintain peace.”

Community engagements through the youth Parliament

Watchdogs during Elections

Several organizations activated their Community Antiviolence Response Teams (CART) as election watchdogs. These trained volunteers played a vital role in preventing and diffusing tensions at polling centres and during political campaigns.

In areas like Pusiga, BEWDA’s CART teams worked closely with police, immigration, and traditional authorities. These community members helped de-escalate minor conflicts before they grew. “Their presence alone was a deterrent,” noted Mbugri Joseph, an assembly member. “People knew the community was watching.”

SAVE Ghana’s CART volunteers in Tumu collaborated with electoral officers and provided support during education campaigns. They also reported hate speech and incitement to local authorities.

One of the unexpected but critical interventions emerged during the peak of the campaign season. The divisive power of political commentary on local radio and social media was proving just as dangerous as physical confrontations.

Again, SAVE Ghana pulled in radio station managers, social media communicators, and party-affiliated commentators into peacebuilding discussions. The result? Voluntary sanctions were placed on inflammatory commentators, while others committed to disseminating peace messages on air and online.

“A major milestone was when a local station agreed—at the Peace Committee’s request—to suspend political content temporarily,” says Dintie Tayiru Sule, Executive Director of SAVE Ghana. “Considering the revenue implications, that was no small feat.”

The organisation collaborated closely with the Regional Peace Council, allowing the institutionalisation of District Peace Committees. These structures will outlive the life of the project.

“Our role is to complement government efforts,” says Sule. “Involving the Peace Council ensures continuity even after the project ends.”

And it’s paying off. As tensions emerged over new government appointees to local assemblies—often a trigger for intra-party conflict—the Peace Committees stepped in again, pre-empting chaos through quiet mediation.

1st DISEC_Platforms Interface by BEWDA 

Inclusion of Marginalised Groups

Inclusive participation, especially involving marginalized ethnic groups like the Fulbe, was central to maintaining calm and avoiding disenfranchisement.

SILDEP and SAVE Ghana facilitated community forums that included Fulbe voices in discussions about the elections. Previously excluded from such conversations, Fulbe leaders were now speaking publicly about peaceful engagement, and nonviolence.

One Fulbe youth leader, Dicko Sulleimani, noted: “This was the first time we were invited to discuss elections. It made us feel recognised —and responsible.”

The inclusive approach helped reduce suspicions and misinformation, as communities learned to work together rather than pointing fingers.

Dialogue Platforms

All the organisations created spaces for multi-stakeholder dialogue, bringing together youth, traditional leaders, religious actors, and political party representatives.

In Walewale, Peace for Life Ghana convened Election Peace Dialogues that included Christian and Muslim clerics, women’s groups, and youth influencers. These forums helped build trust among stakeholders and reaffirm commitments to peace.

The PFL Ghana hosted an Inter-Cultural Ethnic Forum in Wulugu and Inter-Faith Peace Games at Kperiga in Walewale, where Christian and Muslim youth competed in friendly matches.

“These events fostered respect and understanding,” said Rev. Paul Sumani, Chairman of the Inter-Religious Dialogue Committee. “Previously, sermons in churches and mosques were sometimes antagonistic. Now, we’re interacting and even playing together.”

BEWDA and SILDEP worked with border communities to counter the threat of cross-border infiltration and electoral manipulation, raising awareness on legal voting, vigilance, and the role of border security. Community members were educated on how to spot impersonation and election fraud, reducing vulnerability to external interference.

Inter-Ethnic Peace Cultural forum 

Radio for Peacebuilding

Across the regions, radio was a major asset in promoting electoral peace.

SILDEP aired election peace jingles alongside messages about the Fulbe’s inclusion and violent extremism prevention. These encouraged citizens to reject hate speech, avoid politically motivated violence, and embrace diversity.

In Bunkpurugu, YPA’s radio programs included live call-ins with youth and community leaders discussing electoral issues and peace strategies. These built community-wide ownership of the peace agenda.

Capacity Building

Through the SING III project, all five organizations received capacity support from STAR-Ghana, which they cascaded to local actors.

Trainings covered conflict prevention, community mediation, human rights, early warning systems, and collaboration with local security agencies.

As Titus Deri, Staff Officer of the Ghana Immigration Service in Sissala East, puts it: “The level of collaboration and alertness in these communities improved significantly. They understood that maintaining peace during elections isn’t just the job of security—it’s everyone’s job.”

Peace games facilitated by YPA 

Elections Without Violence

Although Ghana’s 2024 elections were highly competitive, the SING III interventions helped reduce the risk of violence in vulnerable northern communities. There were no major electoral conflicts reported in the intervention areas. Instead, communities reported higher awareness, reduced political tension, and increased civic engagement.

A community leader in Tumu Nanju Amadu, reflected, “This was the most peaceful election we’ve experienced in recent years. The work of SAVE Ghana and others made us more prepared, more united.”

The SING III Project has proven that grassroots-led peacebuilding—when well-resourced, inclusive, and sustained—can create a culture of electoral peace even in historically volatile regions. The commitment of civil society groups, when matched with community ownership and security collaboration, forms a powerful shield against political violence.

As Ghana looks ahead to future elections, the approaches tested by SAVE Ghana, BEWDA, YPA, SILDEP, and Peace for Life Ghana offer a replicable model for nationwide electoral peacebuilding—anchored in trust, inclusion, and vigilance.