The Central Regional branch of the National Peace Council has identified unresolved chieftaincy disputes as one of the greatest barriers to development across many communities in the region, warning that the growing conflicts continue to undermine peace, discourage investment, and delay critical development projects.
The Council is therefore urging traditional authorities, government institutions, and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to resolve the disputes through dialogue and lawful processes to safeguard peace and promote sustainable development.
Speaking at a Capacity Building Workshop on Conflict Prevention for Senior High School graduates in Mankessim, the Executive Secretary of the Central Regional Peace Council, Dr. Charles Ohene-Amoh, stressed that lasting peace and development could only be achieved if chieftaincy disputes were addressed amicably.
According to him, prolonged disagreements over traditional leadership often divide communities, create insecurity, and make it difficult for both government and private investors to undertake development projects.
“Communities engulfed in chieftaincy disputes often struggle to attract investment and experience delays in the implementation of development initiatives. Resolving these conflicts peacefully is therefore essential for the progress of the region,” he noted.
Dr. Ohene-Amoh appealed to chiefs, queen mothers, opinion leaders, and relevant government agencies to work collaboratively to find lasting solutions to the disputes, emphasizing that dialogue remains the most effective approach to conflict resolution.
He also cautioned the public against allowing political and communal disagreements to escalate into violence, warning that unresolved conflicts could result in the loss of lives, destruction of property, and significant setbacks to community development.
The Executive Secretary explained that the workshop formed part of the National Peace Council’s broader peace-building programme aimed at equipping young people with the knowledge and skills needed to prevent conflicts, promote peaceful coexistence, and become responsible citizens.
He disclosed that similar workshops would be organised in other districts across the Central Region to strengthen peace, social cohesion, and community resilience.
The Peace Council encouraged participants to become ambassadors of peace by promoting dialogue, tolerance, and mutual respect within their communities. They were also advised to avoid violence, misinformation, and hate speech, particularly on social media and during politically sensitive periods.
Facilitators at the workshop further appealed to political parties and their supporters to conduct their activities peacefully, cautioning politicians against recruiting or encouraging young people to engage in acts of violence before, during, or after elections.
The facilitators also condemned the recent disturbances that marred the New Patriotic Party’s(NPP) constituency elections in the Sekyere constituency despite a court injunction.
They urged all political parties to respect the rule of law and resolve disputes through legal and peaceful means.
They further appealed to party executives, aspirants, and supporters to ensure that upcoming constituency and regional elections are conducted peacefully in order to preserve Ghana’s democratic credentials and maintain national stability.
Participants commended the National Peace Council for organising what they described as a timely and insightful workshop.
They pledged to apply the lessons learned by promoting peace in their schools, communities, and workplaces, while educating their peers on the importance of dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution.
They also committed themselves to discouraging violence that could lead to deaths, injuries, permanent disabilities, and the destruction of public and private property.
The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts by the National Peace Council to build a culture of peace among Ghana’s youth and strengthen conflict prevention mechanisms across the Central Region.
Story by Yaw Boagyan
