As part of efforts to co-ordinate and supervise the work of the regional and district peace councils, and ultimately build sustainable peace in Ghana, the National Peace Council (NPC) held a two-day retreat for management and staff to evaluate programmes, learn lessons and encourage teambuilding and experience sharing to achieve the Council’s mandate. Also, the retreat was a family meeting to reflect on past interventions and how well staff had worked as a team. It was also to identify some challenges that impeded the Council’s progress, improve upon the challenges and take pragmatic actions to enhance delivery and fill any gap that were encountered. Again, the retreat was to equip staff to continuously improve upon competencies as leaders and emotional intelligence to peacebuilding in Ghana. The retreat took place at Erata Hotel, Accra on the 3rd and 4th February, 2022. Present were; Mrs. Adelaide Anno-Kumi, Chief Director of the Ministry of the Interior; Rev. Dr. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman of the NPC; Mrs. Magdelene Kannae, a board member of the NPC and Mr. George Amoh, Executive Secretary of the NPC.
In her remarks, Mrs. Adelaide Anno Kumi stated that in response to the threats to Ghana’s Peace, Government of Ghana facilitated the signing of the “Accra Initiative with Burkina Faso in 2017, “Operation Conquered Fist” and the development of National Framework in 2019 for preventing and countering violent extremism and terrorism. She stated that these approaches had been complemented by soft governance and security mechanisms such as the preventive actions by the NPC.
On reinforcing the role of the NPC, she acknowledged the increased physical presence of the National and Regional Peace Councils. She said, that would reinforce the expectation of Ghanaians to deepen institutional mechanisms to facilitate conflict prevention, management resolution and building sustainable peace in Ghana. In concluding her remarks, the Chief Director urged staff to re-engineer the NPC and continue to network and cooperate with identifiable partners for support to complement the funding from the Government to implement peacebuilding initiatives. She again urged staff to explore closely ways of working with the Regional Security Councils (REGSECs), Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs), Municipal, Metropolitan and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), International organizations and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to promote greater efficiency and effectiveness to enhance Ghana’s peace architecture for rapid socio- economic development.
Rev. Dr. Ernest Adu Gyamfi, the Board Chairman of the NPC, stated that the meeting was to discuss plans for 2022 and also adopt strategies to deliver on the mandate as a National Peace Council. He extended gratitude to all present for building a robust institution that would continue to play its role to sustain the peace of the country.
The Chairman said that it was the desire of the Governing Board to improve the working conditions of staff, provide infrastructure and logistical support to the Council so as to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of the mandate. To end, he urged staff to do their best and work collectively to raise the image of the National Peace Council so that the peace of Ghana can be sustained at all times.
