Social Cohesion And Reconciliation; The Seeds Of Peace – NPC
Social Cohesion, Reconciliation have been tipped as part of the numerous measures to building and maintaining peace.
While Reconciliation refers to the harmonious coexistence between groups that were previously engaged in an event of dispute or conflict, Social cohesion refers to the quality of coexistence between people within their own group and with the institutions that surround them.
How does social cohesion reduce conflict?
Social cohesion helps prevent socio-political polarization by tapping into the local peacebuilding networks which can manage and interrupt conflict forming dynamics, and provide space for new forms of political consensus.
On the other side, Reconciliation seconds to social Cohesion.
National Peace Council, Ashanti Region.
At a three day workshop in the Greater Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region, the National Peace Council (NPC), which is the body mandated to promoting peace and resolving conflict in every occasion preached about peace and peace building.
The workshop, organised specifically at the Otumfou’s Hall at True Vine Hotel in Kumasi on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 to Thursday, October 6, 2022 circled on the need to maintaining peace among individuals, groups and a nation as a whole.
“Peacebuilding, Preventing Violent Extremism, Early Warning and Response, Human Right and Gender in Conflict and Peacebuilding for Micro, Small and and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs” were the key topics that necessitated the workshop.
The program organised by Peace Council, Ashanti Region was sponsored by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
The 3 day workshop chaired by Fr. Anthony F. Naah – Ashanti Regional Peace Council (ARPC) was graced by high profile personalities.
The dignitaries presented at the program were Melody Azinim of UNDP, Mr. Frank Brobbey, National Intelligence Bureau, Mr. I.K Acheampong, Deputy Coordinating Director (RCC, he represented the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah) and Col. Henry Ansah-Akrofi from Ghana Armed Forces.
Also, ACP Rev. Jonas Samuel Aboagye, Ghana Police Service, Mr. Edward Hamilton Acquah of Fusion Centre, Mr. Albert Yelyang, WANEP Ghana and Sabie Naah Atidan also from WANEP Ghana.
And Rev. Emmanuel Badu-Amoah, the Executive Secretary for the Ashanti Regional Peace Coucil.
The workshop on the aforementioned topics centered on how peace can be built and how conflict can be avoided or resolved.
The Chairman of the program, Fr. Anthony F. Naah after welcoming the participants outlined the objectives of the workshop.
The Central Commander, Ghana Armed Forces, Col. Henry Ansah-Akrofi, the Regional Police Commander, ACP Jonas and WANEP’s Albert Yelyang in their solidarity message charged on all to live in harmony with others to drive away conflict.
They said, we should reconcile with others at all course and live with people whether from from different tribes or same lineage in peace.
These, according to them are ways of building peace.
On her part, Melody Azinim, UNDP, highlighted on peacebuilding and preventing violent extremism.
Peacebuilding she says is the development of constructive personal, group, and political relationships across ethnic, religious, class, national, and racial boundaries. It aims to resolve injustice in nonviolent ways and to transform the structural conditions that generate deadly conflict.
She said detecting early Warning signs and response efforts, advocacy work, civilian peacekeeping etc. help building peace.
She said, peace zones should be established in conflict prone areas to as a matter of urgency prevent simmering tension from generating into deadly conflict.
She however touched on the importance of organising peacebuilding and peacekeeping programs regularly to radicalising the potential peace threat in the society.
Adding that, the effects of conflict a nation weaken the foundation of the country’s economy, drive away investors, collapse businesses, endanger and take human lives and many more.
Therefore, we should all build and maintain peace at every corner we find ourselves.
Mrs. Melody Azinim said the UNPD will not relent on their efforts to supporting vital programs such as this.
Meanwhile, Mr. I.K Acheampong, the Deputy Coordinating Director of RCC on behalf of the Ashanti Regional Minister in his speech encouraged the need to inculcate peace teachings in the youth for a violent free country in the nearest future.
Mr. Acheampong opined that, the youth are the future of every nation thereby instilling violent extremism preventing measures in them will change their mindset from the societies in which they live from conflict.
He believes this will help de-touch the youth from engaging in any act that could breed conflict and create tension.
After the three day workshop on Thursday, October 6, 2022, all the participants were excited to preaching peace wherever they find themselves.
The Executive Secretary of ARPC, Rev. Emmanuel Badu-Amoah expressed gratitude to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for their unflinching support to Peace Council (PC).
He also extended the appreciation to the resource persons who made workshop a beneficial one and thanked the whole members for their contributions towards building of peace and preventing of conflicts.
He finally entreated every one to be a peace ambassador.
Thank you and God bless you for reading from filasconews.com.
SOURCE: Filasconews.com/2022
