The Bono Regional Peace Council Chairman, Rev Father William Kyere, has expressed worry over the growing chieftaincy and land disputes in the Bono Region. 

He said the situation, aside from the emerging violent extremism, is a major threat to the peace and security of the region.

“Currently, out of the 19 paramountcies, eight are in dispute and do not have substantive chiefs. This is not good for the peace and growth of the region”, he revealed.

Rev. Fr. Kyere further said, “The region is also bedeviled in land disputes and it is therefore important for all stakeholders, such as the regional house of chiefs, regional coordinating council, and the security agencies, to partner with the regional peace council in dealing with these disputes that are undermining the peace and development”.

Because of this, he said the Bono Regional Peace Council is proposing a regional stakeholders dialogue on peace, security, and development of the region.

He was speaking at the International Peace day celebration in Sunyani, by the Bono regional peace council, under the theme; Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world.

The celebration attracted stakeholders in the region, including religious leaders, students, security services, and the general public, and was chaired by Okokyeredom Sakyi Ako II, the Paramount Chief of Drobo and Vice President of the Bono Regional House of chiefs.

The global celebration is aimed at strengthening the ideals of peace, promote solidarity for building a peaceful and sustainable world.

Justina Owusu Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister in her address, assured that the Coordinating Council would continue to work to safeguard the peace of the region. 

She, however, urged the citizens to also play their parts by revisiting the socio-cultural ethics bestowed on them.

“The virtues of respect for one another, peaceful coexistence, prevention of conflicts through dialogue and mediation, the obedience to authority and leadership, eschewing hate speech and foul language meant to incite one group against another, are all cardinal principles that we as Ghanaians must embrace”, she said.

On his part, the former Chairman of the National Peace Council, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, said political intolerance is alien to the constitution, which allows freedom of association.

He bemoaned the growing bad behavior where people rain insults on others they do not know from Adam just because they disagree with them on a political subject or opinion.

Because of such unwarranted insults, he said he has stopped listening to political shows on the radio.

Rev. Prof. Asante noted that all Ghanaians cannot or be made to belong to one political party, for which reason others are abused for holding a different view.

“Intolerance manifests a lack of respect for individuals and authority. Your political engagements must take into consideration the fact that one-party state is frown upon by Ghana’s constitution and therefore illegal”, he explained.

The lack of equity in the distribution of natural resources, nepotism, partiality in the exercise of official discretion, among others, according to Rev. Prof. Asante, must also be looked at to ensure equity and sustainability of peace.

Other speakers include Alfred Tuah-Yeboah -Deputy Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Most. Rev. Dr. Mathew Kwasi Gyamfi -Catholic Bishop of Sunyani Diocese, Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako –Vice-Chancellor, Unversity of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Lt. Col. J.Y Kwarteng –Commanding Officer, 3BN.