The National Peace Council (NPC) has inaugurated a nine-member Conflict Monitoring and Implementation Committee in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region to strengthen ongoing efforts to restore peace and prevent a resurgence of violence in the area.
The committee is expected to oversee the implementation of conflict resolution strategies and monitor the progress of interventions agreed upon by stakeholders to ensure sustainable peace.
Its membership reflects the Peace Council’s efforts to promote inclusivity, bringing together representatives from the Adele, Akyode and Challa communities, the three groups at the centre of the conflict, alongside members of the Christian and Muslim communities and the Oti Regional Peace Council.
The committee commenced work immediately after its inauguration, which was performed by the Chairman of the National Peace Council Board, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu.
Addressing the gathering, Most Rev. Fianu admitted that previous attempts to resolve the conflict had produced limited results, pointing to weak communication between community leaders and their people as one of the major setbacks.
He observed that while discussions often take place among leaders, the outcomes of those engagements are not always effectively communicated to residents at the grassroots level, creating gaps that undermine confidence in the peace process.
He therefore called on leaders of the affected communities to actively engage their people and ensure that information on peace initiatives reaches every segment of the population.
The Chairman of the Oti Regional Peace Council, Peterkin Gyinae, expressed confidence that the committee’s broad representation would enhance mutual trust and encourage collaboration among the various stakeholders.
He urged members to approach their responsibilities with openness, fairness and impartiality, warning against shielding individuals involved in acts of violence or making unsubstantiated accusations against rival groups.
