The Former First Minister of Northern Ireland, Baroness Arlene Foster, has called for a renewed focus on grassroots dialogue as a pathway to resolving political tensions and regional conflicts across sub-Saharan Africa.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Friday, 30th May, Baroness Foster emphasised that sustainable peace in volatile regions such as Bawku in the northern part of the country can only be achieved when local communities are actively engaged in meaningful conversation.

"I think dialogue is very important, having conversations at a very local level, dialogue is the key and the way forward," she suggested.

Drawing on her experience in navigating Northern Ireland’s complex political past, Baroness Foster stressed the importance of initiating dialogue at the community level rather than relying solely on her jurisdiction's mechanisms.

Her comments come in the wake of persistent unrest in Ghana’s Bawku area, where ethnic and political tensions have led to deadly clashes and military deployments.

In sub-Saharan Africa, a series of coups and cross-border disputes has further strained regional stability. Baroness Foster urged that dialogue should be prioritised at the lower level, including churches, schools, and community engagement.