THE RELEVANCE OF PLANNING IN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN GHANA

The current attention on decentralized governance worldwide, particularly in Africa is aimed at spreading development at the local level. Such intensions have often been marred by conflicts. Ghana has faced such challenges. Planning Authorities have been empowered by law (Act 462 in Ghana) to plan to overcome development challenges. Unfortunately conflicts have not been noticed as a serious development issue and hence not plan for. This book notes that Ghana, especially Bawku have experienced sustained local conflicts because pre-conflicts and post-conflicts management have not been put into planning perspective. The book concludes that collaborative approach was a good option for conflict management and that this effort will only be effective by designing an institutionalized conflict management plans and capitalization of such plans. This book is useful for policy formulators, planning professionals, academics, local government units and NGOs in community development work.