The Northern Caucus of Parliament has intensified engagements with the diplomatic community and development partners to drive peacebuilding, job creation, and agricultural transformation across northern Ghana.
The initiative, led by Majority Leader Hon. Mahama Ayariga, marks a significant push toward resolving persistent conflicts and boosting economic opportunities in the northern enclave.
Speaking during a meeting with the diplomatic corps, Majority Leader Hon. Mahama Ayariga underscored the need for the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, to prioritize domestic peace efforts before engaging in international mediation missions.
“Having witnessed a few occurrences in the Savannah region, I’ve had a discussion with the right honorable speaker that before he goes to Ukraine I think he should check his own neighborhood so we see how we can work together to deal with the peace situation in the north”
Hon. Mahama Ayariga, Majority Leader
He noted that many of the recurring conflicts in the northern regions stem from unresolved disputes over land ownership and traditional authority.
“So one of the things that as a northern caucus we want to do is get some support to put together a northern conference around peace. Basically there are fault lines – there are underlying issues – and the problem has been to not start working on the underlying issues and wait till they erupt into violent conflict”
Hon. Mahama Ayariga, Majority Leader
Hon. Ayariga emphasized that the caucus remains committed to preemptive peacebuilding and early intervention to prevent violence. He said the group’s plan for a “northern conference around peace” will serve as a platform to engage traditional rulers, opinion leaders, and development partners in addressing the root causes of conflicts.
The Majority Leader also stated that human and institutional cooperation is essential to restoring calm and progress across the northern territories, noting that “the early warnings are always there; we just don’t act on them until they become what in some of the cases they have become.”
Boosting Rice Production and Employment
Beyond peace efforts, the Northern Caucus is pursuing a comprehensive agricultural development programme aimed at scaling up large-scale rice production. Hon. Mahama Ayariga revealed that selected officials and traditional leaders will embark on study visits to Kenya and Vietnam to learn modern rice farming and processing techniques.
“We have invited the six municipal and district chief executives. And we are sending them this weekend to Kenya, which also has a huge rice production industry on a very large scale”
Hon. Mahama Ayariga, Majority Leader
He added that Ghanaian investors have expressed readiness to facilitate a similar exchange programme in Vietnam, where members of the caucus and five senior traditional chiefs will observe rice processing models that have helped sustain Vietnam’s global competitiveness in rice exports.
“We invited some of the rice importers to try to understand what we can do in the north to have them take the rice from us instead of importing it – and the importers suggested that they would like to take us to Vietnam, where they take their rice from, so that we see what Vietnam is doing, which makes them go there to pick the rice – to see if we could replicate such practices here”
Hon. Mahama Ayariga, Majority Leader
The Majority Leader disclosed that importers themselves are funding the trip to Vietnam, with the goal of fostering partnerships between Ghanaian producers and buyers to ensure sustainability and guaranteed markets in the near future.
The Northern Caucus’s outreach reflects a broader vision to transform the northern sector into a hub for agricultural innovation and peaceful coexistence. By linking traditional authorities, municipal leaders, and foreign partners, the group aims to strengthen both governance and economic capacity.
The diplomatic corps’ engagement signals international recognition of the region’s potential and the need for inclusive development.
As President John Dramani Mahama’s administration prioritizes domestic cohesion, the Northern Caucus’s initiative aligns with national efforts to address inequality and create meaningful employment.
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