National Peace Council deploys staff to regions

The National Peace Council (NPC) has commenced the deployment of  staff to serve as technical advisers to various district and regional security Councils on conflict prevention, conflict management and resolution.

Mrs Florence Hutchful, NPC Board Member made this known at a mediation training workshop for staff in Ho on Tuesday.

She said the NPC, which was established to build sustainable peace in the country, needed to “adopt a bottom-up approach and not a top-down one.”

“It must begin from within our local communities, districts and regions, hence the need to establish the Regional and District Peace Councils to make use of local knowledge, experiences and expertise in the management of conflicts at the local level,” Mrs Hutchful stated.

She said although Ghana was recognized worldwide as a “relatively stable, democratic and peaceful country,” there were still a number of perennial violent conflicts confronting the nation.

She mentioned the Nkonya-Alavanyo dispute and the clashes between  the Zongo community and natives at Hohoe, saying the area had been very peaceful until such incidents occurred.

She said the Hohoe experience was a reminder that one could not take peace for granted.

Mr Francis Azumah, NPC National Executive Secretary said the Council would educate people on the need to use non-violent strategies to resolve conflicts.

Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, Volta Regional Minister in a message read on his behalf, observed that dialogue was crucial in the resolution of conflicts.

Mr Christopher Carpenter, Political Attaché at the Embassy of Switzerland, sponsors of the workshop, lauded the flexibility and speed with which the NPC was tackling the training sessions.

Source: GNA