Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), says the Ministry and the National Peace Council (NPC) are ensuring that peace prevails for good governance and development to thrive.
He said many conflicts in Ghana were community-based, stemming from issues like chieftaincy disputes and related activities.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim was speaking during a courtesy call by the management of the NPC to seek partnership to ensure the development of mechanisms to address conflict related issues and to congratulate the Minister on his appointment, in Accra.
The Minister said the addition of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development had given the ministry the space and mandate to ensure that peace prevailed in communities.
He said the NPC had played a crucial role in maintaining peace across the country, however, the Council’s structure had to be visible at all regional and district levels for more effective work.
“The two most significant sources of conflict that could threaten the peace of the country are chieftaincy disputes and electoral disputes. In both instances, the NPC consistently plays a pivotal role, especially when the stakes are high,” he added.
Mr. Ibrahim said it was the responsibility of the Ministry to support the extension of their structures to the Regional Coordinating Councils, District Coordinating Councils, District Assemblies, and even to the Area or Unit Committee levels.
He said the President had integrated chieftaincy, sanitation, and local government under the Local Government Ministry, creating three key pillars: Chiefs and queens, pastors and imams, and assembly members and DCEs.
The Minister said at the district level, the District Council of Churches, Traditional Council, and District Assembly would collaborate closely, which meant that if any one pillar faltered, the others could hold them accountable.
“Given the reverence for chiefs, religious leaders, and political figures in the country, this collaboration promises to foster stronger peace and unity,” he added.
Mr. Ibrahim said the Ministry would integrate all three pillars and establish structures from the national to the district level, ensuring the presence of a District Peace Council in all 276 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
He commended the NPC for its tremendous role in ensuring peace in the just before, during and after the 2024 general elections, especially facilitating the signing of a peace pact by all political parties and their presidential candidates.
Mr. George Amoh, Executive Secretary, NPC, said the Council was actively engaging stakeholders, including the MLDCRA to explore partnership opportunities.
He said the goal was to establish a collaborative mechanism for addressing issues related to chieftaincy and religion, ensuring that early warning systems were in place to provide timely and effective responses when such issues arose.
“We believe that MMDCEs are the primary point of contact for District, Municipal, and Metropolitan development”
“Development cannot thrive without peace, so equipping them with the necessary skills to effectively manage conflict will better position them to ensure that development is not impeded by conflicts or other challenges that may disrupt progress,” he added.
GNA