MANAGING CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE YOUTH AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: THE CASE OF THE ASUNAFO SOUTH DISTRICT

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to find out the causes and effects of conflict and how it is managed within the Asunafo South District of the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. The study adopted the descriptive survey design and employed the explanatory sequential mixed method approach. 100 members of the research population were selected from the four communities used in the study to respond to the research questionnaire and the interview to obtain data for the study. Purposive and simple random sampling methods were used to select the sample for the study. The results were analyzed using SPSS and the summary of results presented in tables. The study revealed that conflict is a daily occurrence in the communities and that it has negatively affected the Asunafo South District. The study also revealed that the relationship among the various participants used in the study was not cordial. The study again found that the existing conflict management strategies employed by the leaders had not entirely curb conflicts in the Asunafo South District. It is concluded that the existing conflict management strategies employed in the communities had not been effective to handle issues of conflict and that is the reason why in spite of all the measures put in place to deal with conflict situations in the district, conflict still existed. It is recommended that Opinion leaders and members from the Paramountcy be given training in conflict management so that they can handle conflicts effectively.