President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has challenge the University of Development Studies to establish a Peace and Security Centre.

The president threw the challenge to the university's administrators in a speech read on his behalf by the Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed.

The centre's role would include conflict management training and the detection of early warning signs to prevent acts of violence.

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Established in 1992, the University of Development Studies is the major centre for learning in northern Ghana, with satellites campuses in Ghana's three northernmost regions.

Parts of northern Ghana, including major towns such as Bawku, Bimbilla and Yendi, continue to experience sporadic violence leading to the loss of many lives and property and the stalling of development in that part of the country.

Many of these conflicts are the result of long-standing ethnic, land and chieftaincy disputes.