Board Members of the National Peace Council, Mrs. Joana Adzoa Opare has said the National Peace Council is not a law enforcement agency as people perceive but rather a body of mediators established by the eight hundred and eighteenth (818) Act of the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana to prevent, manage, and resolve conflict and to build sustainable peace.
“We are not the police neither are we the military – and that we don’t have the power to enforce the law and arrest people. We are mediators, we are third party neutrals” she said.
Many Ghanaians have consistently accused the council of being unfunctional. Others also believe the council becomes functional only when it’s getting to general elections.
Speaking at a program organized for females in the various security services to contribute their utmost best to ensure peace as the country prepares for another general elections, Mrs. Opare threw more lights on the mandates of the council which are to harmonize and co-ordinate conflict prevention, management, resolution and building of sustainable peace through net-working and co-ordination. Also, to Strengthen capacities for conflict prevention, management, resolution and sustainable peace in the country including but not limited to chiefs, women, youth groups and community organization.
Responding to these accusations from the general public, she said the council has always been functional and has been working assiduously behind the scenes with some key stakeholders to ensure peace and harmony in the country.
For instance, in 2023, the council mediated close to 300 cases. “Let me draw the attention of the public to the fact that, currently, there are 292 cases on the lap of the Peace Council across this country. Out of that, 112 are chieftaincy issues,” that’s according to the board chair, Reverend Ernest Adu Gyamfi.
As part of its peace education programme, the Ashanti Regional Peace Council on Tuesday March 13, 2024, engaged the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches (GPCC) Members in Ashanti Region on Peaceful Coexistence and Counter Terrorism Security Tips. It was held at Asokwa Church of Pentecost, McKeown Temple.
The Board of the National Peace Council led by its Chairman Rev Dr Ernest Adu-Gyamfi paid a working visit to the Chief of Defense Staff Major General Oppong at his office today Wednesday March 13, 2024. Discussion focused on peace and security generally in the country and how the two institutions should coordinate and cooperate efforts for effectiveness.
The Council has urged political parties, their representatives and media practitioners to be mindful of their utterances going into the December 7 general election.
