Bolgatanga, July 15, 2026 – FactSpace facilitated an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) co-creation session for 30 journalists in the Upper East Region as part of the UNESCO-supported International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) – EMBRACE Peace Project.
The session, facilitated by the Editor of FactSpace West Africa, Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban, brought together participants from across the Bawku enclave as part of conflict-sensitive reporting training.
After an initial session that introduced participants to the IVR platform and its importance to especially offline communities, the different groups worked together to develop content and messaging for the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) platform.
The session focused on generating context-specific messages that will support communities in conflict areas by promoting peace, resilience, and access to reliable information during periods of crisis and tension.
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Through the discussions, participants explored and developed messages around key themes, including the exploitation of trigger events and crisis manipulation, countering digital disinformation, the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) and social media to promote peace, coverage of human rights abuses and vulnerable groups, and gender-sensitive reporting during conflict situations.
The outputs generated will inform the development of the project’s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) platform, ensuring that the content reflects the realities, information needs, and experiences of communities affected by conflict while contributing to efforts to prevent escalation and strengthen peacebuilding initiatives.
Other key stakeholders present during the training included the Upper East Regional Peace Council, Alhaji Sumaila Issaka; the Programmes Officer of the NCCE, Monica Akpanaba; and a representative from the Upper East Regional Command of the Ghana Police Service, Chief Inspector Abdur Rahaman Sumaila.
