Accra: President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday, May 7, inaugurated the reconstituted 13-Member Governing Board of the National Peace Council under the Chairmanship of Reverend Father Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, the Catholic Bishop of Ho Diocese. The National Peace Council, an independent statutory national peace institution, is established by the eight hundred and eighteenth (818) Act of the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, named The National Peace Council Act, 2011. Its core function is to prevent, manage, and resolve conflict and to build sustainable peace.
According to Ghana News Agency, members of the reconstituted National Peace Council include Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost; Rev Dr. Hilliard Dela Dogbe, Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana; and Bishop Dr. Victor Osei, Founder of Family Chapel International. Other members are Alhaji Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih, Ameer and Missionary in-charge of Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana; Sheikh Salman Mohammed Alhassan, Chairman of the National Representative Assembly of Ahlussunna Wal Jama’a-Ghana; and Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam. The rest are Numo Blafo Akotia Omaetu III, representative of Practitioners of African Traditional Religions; Madam Linda Teye; Dr. Abubakar Umar Alhassan; Georgette Francois; Madam Susan Aryeetey; and Nana Effah-Apenteng.
President Mahama, in his remarks after inaugurating the Council, tasked them to go the extra mile in building public trust to sustain Ghana’s peace and development. He emphasized the need for the Council to rise above partisanship, resist manipulation, and become the custodian of the nation’s peace and conscience. The President highlighted the importance of deepening collaboration with the Electoral Commission, the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), and traditional and religious authorities. He also stressed the need for pre-election dialogue platforms to become institutionalized.
Addressing chieftaincy disputes, President Mahama cited the protracted Bawku conflict and other flashpoints, calling on the National Peace Council to complement ongoing mediation talks to secure a lasting solution. He noted that violence in Bawku has claimed numerous lives and displaced several households, and emphasized the need for the Council to work diligently to maintain Ghana’s image as an oasis of peace in the sub-region.
Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, the Minister for the Interior, acknowledged that volatile constituencies such as Asutifi South and Asunafo North, which had previously experienced post-election conflicts, remain calm after the recent elections. He noted some disturbances in constituencies such as Damongo and Ablekuma North and assured that the Council, with support from the Ministry, will work with stakeholders to address any challenges.
The Minister further stated that the Council is making efforts to bring stakeholders together to review the 2024 elections and adopt strategies for more effective cooperation and engagement among political parties and governance stakeholders. This aims to build a future resilient enough to sustain the country’s peace. In a significant recognition by the international community, the Global Action Against Mass Atrocity Crimes (GAAMAC) has proposed that Ghana chairs the organization and hosts its headquarters, which will be moved from Switzerland to Ghana in the coming months.