UWRPC, UNDP train community actors in Sisaala East, Sisaala West and Lambusie districts to counter hate speech
The Upper West Regional Peace Council (UWRPC), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ghana, and funding from the Embassy of Denmark, Accra and Norwa, through the “Strengthening Community Resilience and Engagement to prevent and respond to Violent Exin Ghana” programme, has trained community leaders and journalists in the Sissala area to strengthen their capacity to combat misinformation, hate speech and violent extremism.
The two-day non-residential capacity-building workshop, held from August 12 to 13, 2026, at Saleti Guest House in Tumu, brought together media practitioners, faith leaders, youth and women leaders from seven communities in the Sisaala West and Sissala East districts.
The training forms part of efforts to strengthen community resilience against harmful narratives that can create fear, mistrust, division and violence. Participants were equipped with skills to distinguish between misinformation, disinformation and malinformation, identify harmful narratives at an early stage, and develop alternative narratives that promote peace and social cohesion.
During the training, participants were also introduced to the concept of a harmful-narrative ecosystem, with emphasis on understanding the source, audience, channel, function and underlying grievances associated with such narratives.
Trainers further highlighted the role of community leaders in preventing violent extremism, including early identification of warning signs, protection of vulnerable groups, avoidance of stereotyping and promotion of dialogue.
The intervention seeks to reduce fear, strengthen trust and build community resilience against hate speech, violence and violent extremism. The approach is consistent with research emphasizing community-based peacebuilding and locally grounded responses to violent extremism in Ghana and West Africa. Studies have also highlighted the importance of understanding misinformation and disinformation within conflict-prone social.
By Haruna Kuri Kaayi