The Upper West Region, was the youngest of the ten regions of Ghana, it was carved out of the former Upper Region in 1983 with the view to accelerating development of the said area since it is quite remote from Bolgatanga, the regional capital of the former Upper Region. The region is located in the north-western corner of Ghana. To the south, the region shares borders with the Savanah Region. To the east it shares borders with the Upper East Region and to the north and west, it is bordered by Burkina Faso. The Black Volta forms a natural boundary in the west between the region and Burkina Faso.

The region is divided into eleven (11) administrative districts, thus Wa Municipal, Wa East District, Nadowli/Kaleo District, Jirapa Municipal, Lambusie District, Lawra, Nandom municipal, Sissala West District, Sissala East Municipal, Wa West and Daffiama/Bussie/Issa Districts. In the traditional administrative system, each community has its Chief (Naa or Kuoro) with their councils. The chiefs are therefore placed under paramountcy. The region is made of 32 paramountcy with its apex being the Regional House of Chiefs. Socially, the region is made of three major ethnic groups – Waala, Dagaaba and Sissala – with the predominant religions being Christianity, Islam and Traditional religion. The upper west region is relatively calm. It has been the most peaceful region in Ghana but all the same, the region do experience conflicts such as chieftaincy succession disputes, land and natural resources disputes, religious disputes, and political disputes.

The National Peace Council established by Act, 2011(Act 818) led to the opening of the Regional Peace Council office in the region on September 2013. The Regional Peace Council is mandated to develop mechanisms that will bring sustainable peace in the region. The council is made up of thirteen (13) eminent members who are drawn from the Catholic Bishops Conference, Pentecostal Council, Christian Council, National Council for Charismatic Churches, Ahmadiyya Mission, Al-sunnah/Tijaniya, Orthodox Muslims, two representatives from the Regional Coordinating Council, Two other nominees by Identifiable Groups and one representative from the Regional House of Chiefs.  The chairman is elected by members on their maiden meeting. The current chairman for the council is Rev. Dr. Aloysius Nuolabong. The council is made up of three committees – the Mediation Committee, Education Committee and Welfare and Fund-Raising Committee. Regular Council meetings are organised quarterly and emergency meetings as and when the need arises.

The day-to-day running of the council’s activities is the responsibility of the Regional Secretariat headed by the Regional Executive Secretary – Mr. Emmanuel Danyomah. For the past 25 years, Mr. Danyomah has been working in the peace field. A graduate from the University of Ghana – Business School. He has two post graduate degrees in Theology and Development at Catholic University of Louven in Belgium and Peace and Development Studies at University for Development Studies – Ghana. He is a teacher, a trainer and a mediator. The Regional Executive Secretary is supported by other staff including a Program Manager at the regional secretariat, Aa-enir Saanuo Raymond and a Program Manager at the Nadowli/Kaleo District Guo Adelbert