Western Region Peace Council members build capacity

By Justina Paaga, GNA   

Fijai (WR), May 10, GNA - Members of the Western Region Peace Council have attended a day's capacity building workshop to enhance their skills and come up with pragmatic conflict resolution measures.

The members who were taken through topics such as introduction to conflicts, types, causes of conflict, conflict response, conflict analysis and approaches and mediation is to help build their skills on conflict prevention, management and mediation.

Mr Damien Asobayire, Regional Executive Secretary of the Council, said the workshop was to train the first time members and refresh the memories of the old members of their mandate as peace promoters.

He said it would also allow the council members to share their experience and ideas and bring to bear their expertise.

Dr Prize Michael Apreko, a lecturer at the Takoradi Technical University (TTU) and a  peace promoter, who took the participants through the types and causes of conflicts, said conflicts existed in all societies at all times and needed not necessarily be negative or destructive, however when they were violent the resultant cost were incalculable and must therefore be prevented.

"Conflict has both positive and negative sides and is not necessarily bad if it is properly managed and controlled".

He pointed out that conflicts create the opportunity for people to discuss issues and at the end come up with pragmatic measures to curb the conflict.

Dr Apreko was happy that peace had returned to Dagbon, but stressed that the government should place emphasis on peace building so as to bring total peace to the area.

The 13-member reconstituted council inaugurated in November last year has the mandate to advise the Regional Coordinating Council and Regional Security Council on matters relating to conflicts prevention, management, resolution, reconciliation as well as building sustainable peace in the Region.

The Council members are also mandated to engage in public education and create awareness of conflict indicators within the Region and make recommendations to the Regional Coordinating Council and Security Council on how to improve upon the security issues.

GNA

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