Ashanti Regional Peace Council Partners Presbyterian Church on Peacebuilding Workshop
The Ashanti Regional Peace Council (ARPC), in collaboration with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, organized a Collaborative National Peace Project Workshop for Ecumenical and Social Relations (ESR) Directors and Youth in Peacebuilding and Interfaith Programmes (YIPIP) Coordinators.
The workshop was held on Tuesday, 24th March 2026 at the Basel Mission Guest House, Adum in the Ashanti Region.
Objectives of the Workshop
The programme aimed to:
- Equip Church leaders with knowledge, skills, and practical tools for reconciliation, mediation, and peacebuilding
- Enhance understanding of key concepts such as reconciliation, mediation, and peacebuilding in addressing insecurity
- Develop practical conflict resolution and mediation skills for handling disputes within congregations and communities
- Strengthen the role of the Church as a neutral and trusted institution in promoting peace
Expected Outcomes
The workshop was designed to:
- Enhance mediation capacity among Church leaders
- Deepen participants’ understanding of insecurity issues and the Church’s role in peacebuilding
- Position churches as proactive and visible agents of peace and stability
- Contribute to a reduction in community-level conflicts through effective mediation
- Promote long-term commitment to integrating peacebuilding into church activities and outreach
Key Highlights from the Presentation
Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Badu Amoah (Regional Executive Secretary, ARPC) emphasized the critical role of the Church in addressing rising levels of conflict, mistrust, and social divisions within communities. He noted that the Church, as a moral authority and trusted institution, is uniquely positioned to foster unity and peaceful coexistence.
He clarified key concepts including reconciliation, mediation, and peacebuilding, highlighting their interconnected roles in resolving conflicts and restoring relationships. He explained that reconciliation involves healing and rebuilding trust, mediation provides structured processes for dispute resolution, and peacebuilding focuses on long-term strategies to address root causes of conflict.
The presentation also explored key drivers of insecurity such as poverty, unemployment, political tensions, ethnic and religious divisions, and injustice. Participants were encouraged to analyze these issues within their local contexts to develop appropriate responses.
Practical skills such as active listening, impartiality, dialogue facilitation, and negotiation were emphasized to strengthen participants’ ability to manage conflicts effectively. He further encouraged Church leaders to integrate peacebuilding into sermons, counselling, youth engagement, and community outreach initiatives.
Participation
The workshop brought together over 40 participants, including ESR Directors and YIPIP Coordinators of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, as well as staff of the Ashanti Regional Peace Council, reinforcing a shared commitment to strengthening peacebuilding efforts and promoting sustainable peace within communities.
