Facilitating Dialogue After Conflict: Student Reflections from RISE Internship in Northern Ghana
Professor Mette Brogden, Rashid Iddrisu, and Sadie Kent at a presidential ceremony in Sawla. The group had the opportunity to meet President of Ghana, His Excellency John Mahama, and hear him share his two-year plan for road restoration in the Savannah Region.
This blogpost by Sadie Kent reflects upon her recent internship in Ghana; you can read more about other Human Rights Practice students who recently completed this internship funded by the RISE Program of the Arizona Institute of Resilience. Sadie Kent completed the University of Arizona's Graduate Certificate in Human Rights Practice in fall 2025.
by Sadie Kent
I never imagined that enrolling in the University of Arizona's Human Rights Practice Graduate Certificate program would lead me to the Savannah Region in Northern Ghana. While I have been fortunate to travel and work in various parts of East, Central, and Southern Africa, this experience reaffirmed an important lesson in human rights practice: each community holds its own unique history, wisdom, and cultural depth, and that sustainable change comes from meaningful engagement, listening, and work that supports local leadership rather than speaking for it.
Through the RISE Internship, I was selected to accompany Professor Mette Brogden to her long-term field site in Sawla, Ghana, an Indigenous city in the Savannah Region. My primary role was to serve as a note taker during a two-day workshop with the region’s Paramount Chiefs. The workshop followed a violent conflict that erupted in August of 2025 over a land dispute, an issue deeply rooted in historical chieftaincy systems, colonial legacies, and modern-day political pressures.
Prior to the workshop, I assisted in reviewing previous materials and supporting Professor Brogden in designing an engaging workshop that facilitated meaningful conversation. I also deepened my understanding of the conflict, chieftaincy governance, and contemporary challenges through background research, and most importantly, conversations with the local community members.
Professor Mette Brogden, Rashid Iddrisu, and Sadie Kent with the Paramount Chiefs on day two of the workshop at Mole National Park.
The purpose of the workshop was to not impose solutions, but to present findings from Professor Brogden’s previous research to facilitate dialogue among leaders with significant influence over the region’s stability, preservation, and development. Discussions focused on restoring unity, identifying opportunities for environmental preservation, restoring Indigenous practices, and navigating the complex intersection of modern governance and traditional chieftaincy systems. These conversations were critical for strengthening trust and collaboration amongst leaders to work towards long-term economic sustainability and regional development.
As a notetaker, my role extended beyond simply recording what was said. It required accurate and detailed documentation to capture the diverse perspectives, areas of disagreement, and emerging pathways towards solution-based outcomes. Being present at Mole National Park, in a room with more than twenty Paramount Chiefs -- each representing their respective communities -- was both humbling and intense. Their shared desire for peace and prosperity was clear; the challenge was determining how to move forward collectively. Careful note taking was vital given the sensitivity of the subject matter and to ensure no perspectives were lost or misinterpreted.
The workshop was conducted in close partnership with Rashid Iddrisu, the founder and CEO of World Institute of Africa Culture and Tradition (WIACT) and a local member of the Gonja group who are native to Sawla. Mr. Iddrisu played a central role in conducting the workshop, facilitating dialogue and grounding discussions in local knowledge and cultural context. His leadership, wisdom, deep connection to his community, and commitment to preserving cultural traditions was critical to sustainable development efforts and was an example of the importance of community-led initiatives.
Also, during our stay in Sawla the President of Ghana, His Excellency John Mahama, visited the region to announce a two-year road restoration project aimed at improving transportation and regional access throughout the Savannah Region, a project vital to these communities. This event reinforced how community-based advocacy, conflict resolution, and stable governance are directly linked to workforce development by improving mobility, access to markets, and long-term economic opportunity. Professor Brogden, Mr. Iddrisu, and I even had the rare opportunity to briefly meet the President and share about WIACT’s projects and the goals of the workshop.
The internship strengthened my understanding of how behind-the-scenes roles such as preparation, documentation, engagement, and follow-up are essential to successful human rights work. I gained practical skills in workshop preparation, professional note taking, cross-cultural engagement, and dialogue facilitation, all of which are applicable to organizational and community development. The RISE internship reinforced why human rights work must be grounded in listening, cultural respect, and long-term engagement. This experience was much more than just an academic exercise, it was a reminder that sustainable change begins with dialogue, humility, and community-led solutions.
This internship not only strengthened my confidence but also provided me with practical skills that I plan to use to continue to pursue work in human rights, workforce, and community development. I am so grateful for Mette and Rashid for their guidance and support and for the opportunity to engage in meaningful, community led work in the Savannah Region of Ghana through the support of the Human Rights Practice Program and the RISE Internship Program.