NKWANTA PEACE MEDIATION COMMITTEE PAYS COURTESY CALL ON OTI REGIONAL MINISTER
Dambai, Oti Region – The Nkwanta Peace Mediation Committee has paid a courtesy call on the Oti Regional Minister, Hon. John Kwadwo Gyapong, at the Oti Regional Coordinating Council (ORCC) in Dambai to formally introduce the Committee, present its concept paper, and seek the support and collaboration of the Regional Coordinating Council in its quest to restore lasting peace in Nkwanta.
Welcoming the delegation, Hon. John Kwadwo Gyapong commended the Committee for demonstrating patriotism and commitment by voluntarily coming together to champion peace through dialogue. He expressed confidence that the initiative represents a significant step towards finding a lasting solution to the protracted conflict in Nkwanta.
The Regional Minister noted that sustainable peace can only be achieved when those directly affected take ownership of the peace process while working collaboratively with government and other stakeholders. He praised the calibre of professionals, academics, opinion leaders, and retired public officers serving on the Committee, describing their willingness to serve as a testament to their dedication to the development of Nkwanta and the Oti Region.
Hon. Gyapong further disclosed that His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama remains deeply concerned about the recurring conflict in Nkwanta, emphasizing that the insecurity has negatively affected socio-economic development, education, commerce, and investment within the municipality and the Oti Region as a whole. He therefore assured the Committee of the full support of the Oti Regional Coordinating Council and pledged to work closely with all relevant stakeholders to facilitate the Committee’s work.
Earlier, the Committee, through its spokesperson, Mr. Sylvester Kwame Nkrumah, presented the Committee’s vision and objectives. He explained that the Nkwanta Peace Mediation Committee is an indigenous initiative comprising professionals, academics, intellectuals, opinion leaders, and retired public servants drawn from the Adele, Akyode, and Challa ethnic groups, with neutral mediators from the Ntrubo community facilitating the dialogue process.
According to Mr. Nkrumah, the Committee seeks to promote dialogue and mutual understanding among the three indigenous communities, facilitate trust-building and reconciliation, identify and address the root causes of the conflict through peaceful engagement, complement the efforts of government and other peace-building institutions, and promote peaceful coexistence to create an enabling environment for development and prosperity in Nkwanta.
He further indicated that the Committee has already engaged the Paramount Chiefs, Chiefs, and opinion leaders of the three communities and obtained their endorsement to lead the mediation process. He explained that the Committee has commenced structured engagements through dialogue and consultations and intends to develop a comprehensive peace roadmap that will be submitted to all relevant stakeholders for consideration and implementation.
The Committee appealed to the Regional Minister to officially recognise and endorse the initiative and support collaboration with key institutions, including the Regional Peace Council, the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), traditional authorities, the Nkwanta Municipal Assembly, religious bodies, and civil society organisations. The members reaffirmed their commitment to neutrality, inclusiveness, transparency, and respect for the laws of Ghana in executing their mandate.
During the interaction, representatives from the three ethnic groups serving as whips on the Committee each took turns to express their unwavering support for the initiative and pledged their commitment to promoting dialogue, reconciliation, and unity among their respective communities.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment by both the Oti Regional Coordinating Council and the Nkwanta Peace Mediation Committee to work collaboratively towards restoring lasting peace, stability, and sustainable development in Nkwanta.
The Regional Minister expressed optimism that, with the commitment demonstrated by the Committee and the collective support of all stakeholders, Nkwanta can once again become a model of peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity in the Oti Region.
