With activities of secessionist movements and pockets of conflicts in the country, a Conflict Resolution expert has highlighted the important role of the NCCE to help resolve these conflicts.
‘As an institution that has influenced and positively shaped the minds of Ghanaians over the years on pertinent national issues’, Dr. Enyonam Kudonoo, who is also a Member of the Ghana Association of Certified Mediators thinks the NCCE could be counted on to help build national cohesion and maintain peace.
Dr. Kudonoo made these observations during a presentation at the end of year review meeting in Kumasi.
Speaking on the topic: Conflict Prevention Procedures and Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism, she said since conflict affects everybody, there is the need for mediators to listen attentively to the feuding parties before responding.
‘Conflicts are inevitable in our society but the way we manage them counts a lot,’ she stressed and advised mediators to find better ways to address the conflicts instead of reacting.
She stressed that administering the Appropriate Dispute Resolution Mechanism does not employ force, but should be the choice of the parties involved. She urged the mediators to maintain their neutrality and confidentiality in any case.
As part of the programme, there was an overview of the secessionist situation in parts of the country and a presentation on preventing electoral violence and providing security to the Northern Border Regions of Ghana (NORPREVSEC).
Besides detailed presentation on Relevant legislation on Vigilante and related offences Act, 2019 (Act, 999), Public Order Act, 1994, (Act, 491), some regional directors (Oti, Volta, Northern, North East, Upper East, and Upper West regions) shared some security risks of their regions with participants.
Meanwhile, to support the effort of the Commission to promote peace, Dr. Kudonoo author of The Peace Model: A Sustainable Approach to Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa presented 50 copies of his books to the Commission.
Receiving the books, Ms. Josephine Nkrumah, Chairman of NCCE thanked her for the gesture, which she said would go a long way to build upon the NCCE’s capacity to serve as mediators and advocates for peace and conflict resolution.
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