The Western Regional Peace Advisory Council has been inaugurated with a call on the members to support the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) in diffusing tension and facilitate the use of non-violent resolution of conflicts in the region.
Mr. Anthony E. Amoah, Western Regional Minister, said this at the opening of a four-day capacity building workshop at Sekondi on Tuesday.
The workshop is being organised by the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with the Western Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) while the United Nations Development programme was funding it.
Members of the council include the media, religious groupings, civil society, commission on human rights, members of REGSEC and representative of youth groups.
He said the council was also tasked to mediate inter-district conflicts, coordinate the activities of district peace councils, embark on public education and how to prevent conflicts.
Mr. Amoah said conflict was a hindrance to development and the formation of the council was meant to enable law-abiding citizens to go about their business without any hindrance.
He said the role of REGSEC and DISEC in conflict situations were only aimed at re-active and had not led to the resolving of the issues at stake.
"The council forms part of the national architecture for peace building and must facilitate the development mechanisms for co-operation among all relevant stakeholders in the country" he said.
Mr. Amoah said the numerous land, chieftaincy and religious conflicts in the region was putting undue pressure on the resources of the district assemblies.
"The region has lately been plagued with conflicts between mining companies and communities requiring land in the concessions of some of the mining companies to undertake small scale mining" he added.
Mr. Amoah called on members of the council to act quickly and resolve conflicts in the region and create the required environment for peace and development.
Mr. Abdulai Bawumiah of the Peace building Unit of the Ministry of Interior said since 2004 the ministry had been advocating for the use of non-violence in conflict resolution in the country.
He said many initiatives aimed at solving conflicts had not critically looked into the causes of conflicts.
Mr. Bawumiah said peace and stability were vital ingredients for development and all stakeholders should take it serious.
