Peace Has No Breaking News: Why the Greatest Victories Are the Crises That Never Happened

“Peace rarely arrives with applause. More often, it enters quietly through conversations that prevent tomorrow's tragedies.” — Kwesi Yirenkyi Boateng

The Morning We Take for Granted

Before sunrise in many hamlets, homes, communities, towns and cities, the market women are already arranging tomatoes, onions, smoked fish and vegetables on wooden stalls.

Commercial drivers in many suburbs of Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani, Bolga, Tamale, and Tachiman among other towns call out destinations as passengers hurry towards waiting buses.

Children in neatly ironed uniforms walk briskly to schools in Wa, Wamfie, Wenchi and Worawora, Wassa Amenfi, and Wawaso laughing with friends before the first lesson begins.

A farmer at Bonakye, Boankra, Begoro, Biabiani, Bompata and Baglo step into their field with a hoe and cutlass to start work.

A nurse reports for duty at Agogo, Assin-Fosu, Akwatia, Agroyesum, and Asakragwa. A shopkeeper lifts the shutters in Makola, Mankranso, Mankesim and Madina among others.

Another ordinary day begins. There are no frightened families fleeing their homes.

No smoke rising over a community. No emergency security deployment.

No schools closed because of violence. Life unfolds quietly, almost unnoticed.

Most of us never stop to ask why.

The Story That Was Never Reported

The answer may lie in a conversation that took place days earlier. Perhaps two families had fallen into a bitter disagreement over a piece of land. Voices were raised.

Wild exaggerated rumours spread with a dose of careless insult and insinuation. 

Friends began taking sides. For a while, the community feared the worst.

Then a respected chief invited both families to sit together beneath a tree.

Religious leaders joined them. Community elders listened more than they spoke.

There were no miracles. There were difficult conversations.

However, with candor and tact, overtime misunderstandings were clarified.

Anger slowly gave way to reason. Pride surrendered to compromise.

When everyone finally stood up to leave, there was no applause.

No television cameras. No newspaper headline. No breaking news alert.

Yet something remarkable had happened. A conflict that was brewing had been prevented before it could consume lives.

The Quiet Success of Peace

This is the paradox of peacebuilding, where often violence announces itself, and peace rarely makes the news. When conflict erupts, headlines follow.

When conflict is prevented, silence often follows. And because nothing dramatic appears to have happened, many assume that nothing was done.

The truth is very different. Peace is built patiently with countless tireless efforts over a length of time.

It grows through trust earned over time, difficult conversations held behind closed doors, compromises reached with humility, and relationships strong enough to withstand moments of tension.

Its greatest victories leave behind no ruins to photograph and no tragedy to mourn. Only ordinary life continues as it should.

The People Behind Peace

Every peaceful community is sustained by people whose names may never appear in print. Traditional authorities who patiently mediate disputes. Faith leaders who preach reconciliation instead of resentment.

Teachers who teach children how to disagree without hatred. Parents who raise sons and daughters to value respect over revenge. Journalists who choose verification over sensationalism. Security officers who exercise professionalism and restraint.

Women who quietly hold families and communities together during moments of tension.

Young people who refuse to allow rumours to become violence. Institutions such as the National Peace Council, through mediation, dialogue, civic education and early intervention, work every day to ensure that disagreements do not become disasters.

These are not dramatic acts. They are deliberate disciplined acts.

And discipline seldom becomes breaking news.

The Story We Rarely Tell

Modern journalism quite rightly reports conflict when it occurs.

The public deserves to know. But perhaps we should also pay greater attention to another kind of story. The story of the crisis that never happened.

The election that remained peaceful because people chose dialogue over provocation.

The community that stepped back from violence because trusted leaders intervened in time. The misunderstanding resolved before fear became hatred. 

These stories deserve telling, not because they are dramatic, but because they remind us that peace is never accidental. It is built.

A Responsibility We All Share

Peace cannot be left to the governments alone. Nor can it be entrusted solely to chiefs, religious leaders, security agencies or peace institutions. It belongs to all of us. Every conversation either builds trust or weakens it.

Every rumour either fuels fear or is stopped by someone who values truth. Every disagreement becomes an opportunity to deepen division or strengthen understanding.

Peace begins in ordinary places. In our homes. Our schools. Our workplaces. Our marketplaces and in our places of worship. Long before it is tested in moments of national crisis.

The KYB Reflection

This evening, the evening news will come to an end. There may be stories about politics, business, sport and the day’s events.  There may be no report of a conflict prevented in a village, a misunderstanding resolved in a neighbourhood, or a quiet act of reconciliation that kept a community together. Tomorrow morning, the market women will return to their stalls. Children will walk to school. Farmers will head to their fields.

Drivers will call out destinations. Life will continue.

Most of us will simply call it another ordinary day. Perhaps we should call it something else. Perhaps we should call it the quiet triumph of peace.

Because the greatest victories are often the crises that never happened.

And that is why peace has no breaking news.

Leadership Lens

Three lessons for every leader and citizen:

• Prevent before you respond. The wisest leadership addresses tensions before they become crises.

• Choose dialogue over division. Lasting peace is built through listening, trust and mutual respect.

• Remember the unseen. Many of society's greatest achievements are the quiet victories that preserve dignity, protect lives and strengthen communities.

Policy Corner

To strengthen Ghana’s culture of preventive peacebuilding:

• Invest in community mediation and local dialogue mechanisms.

• Expand peace and civic education in schools and tertiary institutions.

• Support early warning and early response systems.

• Encourage journalism that highlights reconciliation and successful conflict prevention alongside crisis reporting.

• Deepen collaboration among traditional authorities, faith leaders, civil society, local government and state institutions in resolving disputes before they escalate.

Peace is not simply the absence of violence. It is the presence of trust, justice, dialogue and shared responsibility.

Quote of the Week

“The strongest societies are not those that fight conflict most successfully, but those that prevent conflict most wisely.” — Kwesi Yirenkyi Boateng

See Something, Say Something: A Shared Responsibility for Building Peace in Ghana

"Peace is protected not only by those who keep watch, but also by those who care enough to speak before trouble begins."- Kwesi Yirenkyi Boateng 

Peace is one of Ghana's greatest national assets. It creates the environment for economic growth, democratic governance, investment, education, and community development. Yet peace should never be taken for granted. It is nurtured every day through responsible leadership, active citizenship, and our willingness to respond to problems before they become crises.

Most conflicts do not begin with violence. They start quietly—with rumours, misunderstandings, inflammatory language, unresolved grievances, acts of intimidation, or disputes that are allowed to fester. Left unattended, these warning signs can deepen mistrust, divide communities, and eventually erupt into violence.

This is why the simple message "See Something, Say Something" deserves renewed attention. While often associated with public safety, it also offers an important lesson for peacebuilding. It reminds us that every citizen has a role to play in protecting peace by recognising early signs of tension and sharing genuine concerns through appropriate channels before situations get out of hand.

Recognising the Early Signs

Every community has people who are often the first to notice when relationships begin to deteriorate. A teacher may observe growing hostility among students. A market trader may hear rumours of an impending confrontation. A transport operator may witness unusual movements within a community. Traditional and religious leaders frequently become aware of grievances long before they attract public attention.

These observations matter.

They provide opportunities for dialogue, mediation, and preventive action while solutions are still possible. Early warning is therefore not about predicting conflict; it is about recognising risks early enough to prevent them from becoming violence.

In peacebuilding, timely information can make the difference between successful mediation and costly intervention after lives and property have already been lost.

Every Citizen Is Part of the Peace Infrastructure

Building peace is not the responsibility of the National Peace Council, the security agencies, or government alone. Lasting peace depends on the active participation of citizens who understand that silence in the face of emerging danger can sometimes carry serious consequences.

When community members report credible concerns responsibly, they strengthen Ghana's peace architecture. Information from local communities enables institutions to verify facts, engage the appropriate stakeholders, facilitate dialogue, and intervene before tensions escalate.

This partnership between citizens and institutions is one of the strongest safeguards against violent conflict.

Responsible Reporting Builds Trust

The principle of "See Something, Say Something" should never encourage fear, suspicion, or unnecessary alarm. Nor should it become an excuse for spreading rumours or making unfounded accusations.

Responsible reporting means sharing information honestly, avoiding speculation, respecting confidentiality where necessary, and allowing the appropriate authorities to verify facts before action is taken.

Equally important is knowing when not to share information. Passing on unverified rumours, whether in conversation or on social media can inflame tensions and unintentionally contribute to the very conflicts we seek to prevent.

Protecting peace sometimes means choosing restraint over reaction.

Peacebuilding in the Digital Age

Today's warning signs are no longer confined to town meetings or community gatherings. They often emerge first on social media platforms, messaging applications, and online discussion forums.

False information, manipulated images, hate speech, and inflammatory commentary can spread across the country within minutes, creating anxiety and deepening divisions.

Every digital citizen therefore carries an important responsibility. Before forwarding a message, we should pause and ask:

* Is this information true?

* Has it been verified?

* Could sharing it create fear or increase tensions?

* Will this message build peace or undermine it?

In many situations, the decision not to share unverified information is itself an act of peacebuilding.

Strengthening Ghana's Peace Architecture

Ghana has earned international recognition for its commitment to peaceful democratic governance. This achievement has not happened by chance. It reflects the collective efforts of the National Peace Council, traditional authorities, religious leaders, civil society organisations, security agencies, the media, and ordinary citizens who continue to choose dialogue over violence.

Community participation remains central to this success.

When citizens, institutions, and local leaders work together, early warning becomes more effective, responses become timelier, and communities become more resilient in the face of emerging tensions.

Peace is strongest when everyone accepts responsibility for protecting it.

From Awareness to Action

The philosophy behind  "See Something, Say Something" is simple:

Observe. Report responsibly. Verify the facts. Encourage dialogue. Prevent violence.

These are not merely institutional responsibilities. They are civic responsibilities.

Whether in our homes, schools, workplaces, places of worship, marketplaces, or online communities, every responsible action contributes to a culture of peace.

Small actions often produce significant results. A conversation that calms emotions, a rumour that is corrected before it spreads, or timely information shared through the right channels can prevent conflicts that might otherwise have caused immeasurable harm.

Conclusion

Peace is not sustained by chance. It is sustained by people who recognise that protecting their communities begins with paying attention to what is happening around them and responding responsibly.

The message: See Something, Say Something calls on every Ghanaian to become an active partner in safeguarding our nation's peace. It is not about creating suspicion or encouraging surveillance. It is about promoting responsibility, strengthening trust, and ensuring that concerns are addressed before they become crises.

If each of us remains vigilant, rejects misinformation, encourages dialogue, and reports credible warning signs through the appropriate channels, we will continue to strengthen the foundations of peaceful coexistence.

In the end, peace is not only the responsibility of institutions. It is the shared responsibility of every citizen.

See Something. Say Something. Build Peace.

NPC charges students to ‘Be Peace Ambassadors’

DODOWA, ACCRA – The National Peace Council (NPC) has called on students to become ambassadors of peace by promoting respect, tolerance, and coexist peacefully, while reject bullying, violence, and discrimination in their schools and communities.

The call was made during a Peace Education and Sensitisation engagement with students of GHANATA Senior High School at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region as part of the Council’s ongoing outreach programme to instil the values of peace and responsible citizenship among students in second-cycle educational institutions.

The NPC’s Director of Capacity Development and Outreach, Mrs. Janet Sarney-Kuma, led an interactive session on conflict and conflict management. During the discussion, students identified common sources of conflict in schools, including student-to-student disagreements and student-to-teacher conflicts.

She underscored the importance of promoting peace and harmony within schools, encouraging students to appreciate diversity and resolve their differences through dialogue rather than confrontation.

Mrs. Sarney-Kuma, who led the students to in making the peace pledge, further urged them to report bullying incidents promptly to their housemasters or housemistresses, the school counselling unit, or the headmistress.

The Headmistress of the School, Madam Constance Amofa, who stressed the importance of peace in the school, thanked the team from the NPC for their session and entreated the students to adopt the useful lessons the Council shared with them.  

The Peace Education and Sensitisation programme is one of the NPC’s flagship initiatives aimed at nurturing responsible citizenship, preventing violence, and fostering a culture of peace among Ghana’s youth. Through sustained engagements in schools, the Council seeks to empower students to become advocates for peaceful coexistence and contribute to building a more united and harmonious society.

THE POLITICS OF ACCRA FLOODING

Beyond the Rain: Why Leadership, Planning, and Civic Responsibility Hold the Key to a Safer Accra

When the Rain Brings Fear Instead of Relief

The first drops of rain should bring relief.

After days of scorching sunshine, rain nourishes crops, cools the atmosphere, replenishes water bodies, and reminds us of nature’s generosity. For generations, Ghanaians have welcomed the rains as a blessing, one that sustains livelihoods and renews the land.

For many residents of Accra, however, the sound of heavy rainfall no longer evokes comfort or gratitude. It awakens fear.

In homes across Alajo, Kaneshie, Odawna, Weija, Adabraka, Awoshie, and Dzorwulu, parents instinctively begin calling their children home. Traders rush to lift merchandise from the floor onto tables and shelves. Motorists abandon familiar routes in search of safer ground. Shopkeepers anxiously watch nearby drains, while families living near streams quietly brace for water to enter their homes once more.

The scale of the fear is not exaggerated. On June 29, 2026, roughly 140mm of rain fell on Accra in a single day, more than double what had previously counted as a heavy downpour. This turned the N1 Highway, the Accra–Kasoa stretch, Kaneshie, Dzorwulu, Awoshie, and dozens of other corridors into rivers within hours. Twelve peoples were reported dead with others being recovered from floodwaters later. It was, by several accounts, the worst flooding the city had experienced in years and yet, in the broader sweep of Accra's history, utterly unremarkable. The Daily Graphic ran a front-page headline on April 18, 1960, that could be reprinted today with only the date changed: the rains had come to Accra, and the city had drowned.

For some, the rain means another sleepless night. For others, it means watching years of hard work disappear beneath muddy water.

A Cycle Ghana Knows Too Well

Every rainy season, Accra appears to relive the same painful experience. The headlines change only slightly. Roads become rivers. Homes are inundated. Families are displaced. Lives are disrupted and in the most tragic instances, lost.

Then comes another familiar ritual. President John Dramani Mahama, after conducting an aerial inspection of the submerged capital, attributed the June disaster to a combination of extreme rainfall, decades-old drainage weaknesses, and reckless human behaviour, and released GH¢350 million in emergency relief and mitigation funds. The Accra Metropolitan Assembly, facing public anger, rejected accusations of institutional failure and instead rolled out a one-month free refuse collection scheme for flood-hit communities, a week-long desilting operation targeting major drainage choke points, and an appeal for residents to report people caught dumping waste into drains. There was a mammoth institutional mobilisation for clean-up in various areas affected by the flooding. Most residents with the support of the assemblies joined the exercise to desilt the choked drains.

Eventually, the rains stop. The floodwaters disappear. Public attention drifts elsewhere.

Until the next storm.

This cycle has become so familiar that many residents now regard flooding as an unavoidable feature of life in Ghana’s capital. But there is nothing inevitable about a preventable disaster and Accra’s own institutions increasingly say so themselves. In Ablekuma West, after structures demolished for blocking waterways in 2026 were simply rebuilt on the same spots, the Greater Accra director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) publicly called on the President to dismiss the Municipal Chief Executive and the planning officers responsible. That single episode captures the deeper failure better than any general appeal to “the system”: demolition without enforcement is not prevention. It is theatre.

Rain Is Natural. Disaster Is a Choice.

Rain is a natural event. Disaster, more often than not, is a reflection of human choices. This distinction is critical, and it is not merely rhetorical in Accra’s case. Researchers who have studied the city’s flooding point to five recurring, well-documented causes: its low-lying coastal geography; homes and businesses built directly on floodplains and drainage channels; drains choked with plastic waste and sachet-water bags; drainage infrastructure engineered decades ago for a city a fraction of today’s size; and zoning and wetland-protection laws that exist on paper but are routinely unenforced. The Odaw River basin, which drains much of the city into the sea through the Korle Lagoon, is where the worst disasters concentrate. This is precisely because it is the most densely built over and the most heavily encroached upon basin.

Money is not the barrier it is often assumed to be. A 2024 engineering assessment put the cost of an upgraded Odaw flood-protection system built to withstand a one-in-25-year storm at roughly US$675 million, more than triple the budget originally allocated to the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) project meant to address exactly this problem. The obstacle is not the absence of money on paper. It is the absence of political follow-through.

Accra’s annual flooding, then, tells a much larger story than any single weather forecast can capture:

• A story of urbanisation outpacing infrastructure.

• A story of environmental degradation and shrinking wetlands.

• A story of blocked drains and neglected waterways.

• A story of institutions — AMA, NADMO, Water Resources Commission, the Ministry of Works and Housing, district assemblies, working in silos when coordination is essential.

• A story of communities struggling to balance rapid development with environmental sustainability.

Above all, it is a story about leadership, governance, and collective responsibility.

Beyond the Blame Game

The politics of Accra’s flooding should never be reduced to arguments over which administration deserves the greater share of blame or credit. President Mahama has resisted framing the crisis purely as bad luck, describing it instead as a problem of indiscipline as much as engineering. That framing is only half right: the engineering deficit is real and decades deep. But it is not wrong either. Accra does not flood because of how much rain falls. It floods because of what has been done, and left undone, to the land the water needs to pass through.

The more important question is this: What kind of city do we want Accra to become?

Do we accept seasonal flooding as an unavoidable reality or recognise it as a challenge that can be managed through thoughtful planning, sustained infrastructure investment, honest enforcement, and sustained political will? Ghana has already invested years of technical work into a parametric flood insurance model for Greater Accra, developed with UNDP and the insurance industry, designed to cushion households and businesses against losses infrastructure alone cannot prevent. It remains, by most accounts, unimplemented.

The answer will shape not only how the city responds to its next heavy rainfall, but the legacy it leaves for the generations who will inherit it including, quite literally, the families who lost their relative and did not get to choose whether this was the year the flood visited their homes, workplaces or communities.

At this rate, it could be said without a shred of doubt that every flood is more than an environmental event. It is a measure of how seriously a nation values human life. It is a test of the strength of its institutions or a reflection of the choices made long before the clouds gather.

And, perhaps most importantly, it is a chance to decide: will Accra keep rebuilding on the same floodplains after every demolition or finally begin enforcing the rules it already has?

By Kwesi Yirenkyi Boateng

12 July 2026

Words That Heal: The Quiet Power of Communication in Peacebuilding

A single social media post can undo years of peacebuilding in Ghana. A single sentence, spoken with care, can just as easily hold a fracturing community together. 

That asymmetry is how much faster words destroy than they build is the quiet crisis at the centre of Ghana's peacebuilding project, and the subject of this week’s column.

As Ghana works to consolidate its democratic gains and strengthen social cohesion, the language its citizens choose both online and offline has become one of the country’s most consequential, and least regulated, tools for peace.

Long before treaties are signed or ceasefires declared that peace or its absence is negotiated in something far more ordinary: conversation. Communication connects people before any policy does. But the same faculty that builds trust can just as easily dismantle it and history offers no shortage of proof.

Most wars, on closer inspection, did not begin with weapons. They began with words that fuel hatred, spread fear, distorted truth, stripped people of their dignity. Reconciliation, by the same logic, tends to begin small: a conversation, an apology, a gesture of understanding, a courageous appeal for calm. This is why communication sits at the heart of peacebuilding and conflict prevention, not at its margins.

When Words Become Weapons

Every conflict has an origin story, and a striking number of them start with language: insensitive remarks, inflammatory political rhetoric, misinformation, ethnic stereotyping, religious intolerance, hate speech. In the digital era, where a claim can circle the globe before it is fact-checked, the damage no longer stays local.

An unverified post or an inflammatory headline can undo years of patient peacebuilding work in a matter of hours. The reverse is also true: responsible communication calms anxieties, opens dialogue, and restores confidence at the exact moments a society needs it most.

Nelson Mandela built a political legacy on this insight that reconciliation starts with recognising the dignity of every person, even amid deep division. Archbishop Desmond Tutu distilled the same idea into a single line that has outlived him: “My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” It is a restatement of Ubuntu, the African philosophy holding that humanity is realised through relationship, not in spite of it.

The Language of Peace

Peace-centred communication is not a matter of politeness. It is a discipline choosing language that favours understanding over hostility, dialogue over confrontation, hope over fear. It listens before it judges, and it seeks to understand before it condemns.

The effects compound across every layer of society:

• In homes, it strengthens families.

• In schools, it shapes responsible citizens.

• In workplaces, it builds trust among colleagues.

• In communities, it encourages cooperation.

• In national discourse, it strengthens democracy.

Each respectful exchange, however small, is a deposit in the account of social cohesion.

The Responsibility of Leaders

Leadership, in practice, is largely an exercise in communication. Political leaders, traditional authorities, religious figures, teachers, journalists and public officials all shape a society’s temperature through the words they choose to amplify.

In moments of national uncertainty, citizens don’t just need direction from their leaders they need reassurance. The language of leadership should reduce fear rather than stoke it, inspire confidence rather than erode it, and mobilise collective action rather than division. The measure of leadership, in this frame, is not volume. It’s the capacity to find common understanding where others are content to see only sides.

The Media as Partners in Peace

Journalists don't merely report events. They shape how the public understands them, which is a different and heavier responsibility. Accurate, balanced reporting helps citizens make informed decisions and starves speculation and misinformation of the oxygen they need to spread.

This is the premise of peace journalism: not ignoring conflict, but covering it responsibly providing context, surfacing paths to dialogue, and avoiding language that escalates tension for its own sake. Every headline carries influence. Every interview shape perception. Every story either deepens a divide or helps close one.

Healing Begins in Everyday Conversations

Peacebuilding is often filed under the work of governments and institutions. In practice, it begins much closer to home with parents who teach children respect, teachers who encourage rather than discourage, employers who make space for dialogue, neighbours who settle disputes amicably, and friends who choose empathy over insult.

The strongest societies aren't the ones without disagreement. They are the ones with the wisdom to manage disagreement constructively. By that standard, every citizen is a peacebuilder through the language they choose one conversation at a time.

Communication in the Digital Age

The digital revolution has turned every citizen into both a consumer and a producer of information. That shift demands more responsibility, not less. Before forwarding a message or sharing a post, the questions worth asking are simple:

• Is it true?

• Is it accurate?

• Is it respectful?

• Will it promote understanding?

• Could it cause unnecessary harm?

Responsible digital citizenship is no longer a nice-to-have. It has become a pillar of national peacebuilding in its own right. Silence in the face of misinformation carries a cost but responsible communication, exercised early, can stop a misunderstanding before it hardens into conflict.

Words That Build Nations

Ghana’s standing as one of Africa’s most peaceful democracies rests on more than its institutions. It rests on generations of citizens who have consistently chosen dialogue over violence a habit, not an accident, and one that requires deliberate maintenance.

The National Peace Council continues to lead on mediation, civic education, conflict prevention and social cohesion nationally. But that institutional work only goes as far as individual citizens carry it. Peace is not preserved by law or security measures alone it survives in everyday conversations rooted in truth, respect and empathy:

Every encouraging word strengthens hope. Every apology restores trust. Every respectful disagreement strengthens democracy. Every honest conversation prevents a misunderstanding from becoming something worse. These are unremarkable moments individually. Collectively, they are the foundation of a nation's peace.

Conclusion

Words carry outsized power. They can destroy reputations or restore dignity, deepen conflict or drive reconciliation, divide communities or unite nations and the choice of which, in each conversation, belongs to the person speaking.

As Ghana continues toward inclusive development, democratic consolidation and sustainable peace, the words its citizens choose can be instruments of healing rather than hostility, bridges rather than barriers, seeds of hope rather than sources of division. Because when words heal, relationships flourish. When relationships flourish, communities grow resilient. And when communities are resilient, nations prosper in peace.

Quote of the Week

"The strongest voice is not the one that shouts the loudest, but the one that inspires understanding, restores dignity and builds peace." — Kwesi Yirenkyi Boateng

NPC Empowers Queen Mothers as Champions of Community Peacebuilding

The National Peace Council (NPC) has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive peacebuilding by organising a two-day capacity-building workshop for Queen Mothers from across Ghana. The programme, held under the theme: "Amplifying the Role of Queen Mothers as Key Agents of Community Peacebuilding," sought to strengthen the knowledge and skills of Queen Mothers in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, social cohesion, mediation, and community leadership.

The initiative reflects the Council's recognition of the indispensable role Queen Mothers play in promoting harmony, preserving cultural values, and fostering social stability within their communities. As respected custodians of tradition and moral authority, Queen Mothers occupy a unique position that enables them to influence attitudes, resolve disputes, and mobilise communities towards peaceful coexistence.

Opening the workshop, Madam Susan Aryeetey, a Member of the NPC Governing Board, underscored the importance of empowering Queen Mothers to become stronger advocates for peace at the grassroots level. She noted that sustainable peace begins within families and communities, where Queen Mothers often serve as trusted counsellors, mediators, and role models.

Madam Aryeetey also took participants through the provisions of the National Peace Council Act, 2011 (Act 818), explaining the Council's mandate, achievements, and interventions in conflict prevention and resolution across the country. She encouraged the Queen Mothers to become ambassadors of the Council's work and to support efforts aimed at building a peaceful and united Ghana.

A key feature of the workshop was the recognition of the strategic role women, particularly Queen Mothers, play in sustaining peace. Discussions highlighted how women often serve as bridges between generations, families, traditional authorities, and state institutions, making their participation in peacebuilding both necessary and impactful.

Speaking at the programme, Mr. Carl Ampah, National Professional Officer for Culture at UNESCO, emphasised that sustainable peace cannot be achieved solely through political settlements or legal frameworks. Rather, he noted that lasting peace requires cultural understanding, dialogue, community ownership, and inclusive participation. He commended the National Peace Council for creating a platform that empowers traditional women leaders to contribute meaningfully to national peacebuilding efforts.

Similarly, Madam Charity Nikoi, Social and Behavioural Change Specialist at UNICEF Ghana, praised the initiative and reaffirmed UNICEF's commitment to supporting women-led peacebuilding interventions. She highlighted the influential role Queen Mothers play in shaping social norms, promoting child welfare, and strengthening community resilience.

The Paramount Queen Mother of the Osudoku Traditional Area and President of the National Queen Mothers Platform Ghana, Nana Amposah Dokua III, expressed appreciation to the National Peace Council for recognising the contributions of Queen Mothers to peace and development. She described Queen Mothers as custodians of culture, unity, and social harmony and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peaceful communities across the country.

Nana Amposah Dokua III further appealed to the National Peace Council to intensify its interventions in addressing chieftaincy disputes and other emerging conflicts that threaten community cohesion and development. She stressed that strengthening collaboration between traditional authorities and peace institutions would contribute significantly to conflict prevention and resolution.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, Dr. George Amoh, encouraged Queen Mothers to strengthen their institutional structures by establishing registries and maintaining proper records of their activities and decisions. According to him, effective documentation would enhance continuity, accountability, and the preservation of traditional knowledge.

Dr. Amoh further urged participants to uphold the dignity and integrity of the chieftaincy institution by conducting themselves in ways that inspire public confidence and respect. He reminded them that their actions and leadership have far-reaching implications for peace, development, and social cohesion within their communities.

The workshop also provided participants with practical skills in conflict management and mediation. Sessions facilitated by the NPC's Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Suallah Quandah, introduced participants to conflict analysis, negotiation techniques, and mediation approaches that can be applied to community disputes.

Additionally, the Head of the NPC Gender Unit, Ms. Semefa Asimenu, facilitated discussions on women's participation in peacebuilding and leadership. Her session explored the transformative role women can play as agents of change and highlighted the importance of ensuring their meaningful inclusion in peace and security processes.

The workshop concluded with the presentation of certificates to participants in recognition of their commitment to strengthening peacebuilding efforts within their traditional areas.

As Ghana continues to navigate emerging social, political, and communal challenges, the National Peace Council remains committed to building partnerships with traditional authorities and empowering community leaders to serve as advocates for peace. By investing in the capacity of Queen Mothers, the Council is helping to strengthen local mechanisms for dialogue, mediation, and conflict prevention, thereby contributing to a more peaceful, cohesive, and resilient society.

Peacebuilding is most effective when it begins within communities, and Queen Mothers remain among Ghana's most valuable partners in advancing that vision.

AU Envoy Calls for Urgent Alliance for peacebuilding in Africa

ACCRA, Ghana – In a decisive push toward continental stability, the African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, has called for an urgent alliance between traditional rulers, faith leaders, and judicial authorities to eliminate conflict across Africa.

Speaking at a two-day Inaugural African Union Continental Dialogue with Traditional, Interfaith, and Judicial Leaders in Accra on Tuesday, June 16, Dr. Chambas emphasized that a united front is the only way to transform peace rhetorical commitments into visible grassroots action.

Shifting from Dialogue to Action

Addressing delegates in Accra, the seasoned diplomat urged stakeholders to move away from symbolic declarations and establish concrete systems of governance and transparency.

“Let this gathering in Accra be remembered not only for its significance, but for its impact,” Dr. Chambas stated, urging a decisive shift from intent to implementation. He noted that the combined authority of cultural heritage, religious guidance, and formal legal structures forms an unbreakable framework capable of resolving the continent’s most stubborn divisions.

Five Pillars for a Conflict-Free Africa

The AU envoy outlined a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable peace, built upon five foundational pillars:

• Embracing Diversity: Transitioning from ethnic and political fragmentation to utilizing cultural differences as a source of continental strength.

• Impartial Justice: Expanding formal and customary legal networks to guarantee fair, accessible, and unbiased conflict resolution.

• Faith-Driven Cohesion: Leveraging the moral authority of religious institutions to promote reconciliation and counter violent extremism.

• Traditional Governance: Engaging customary leaders as frontline mediators to prevent communal tensions before they escalate.

• Accountable Leadership: Reforming administrative governance to prioritize public service and transparency, directly tackling the socioeconomic root causes of war.

The dialogue brought together faith leaders, traditional leaders, youth activists, members of the Judiciary and media as well as national institutions civil, society organisations working to promote peace in Africa.

Target 2030: The Road Ahead

The Accra dialogue marks a vital operational step for the AU Silencing the Guns Initiative, a flagship project of Agenda 2063 aimed at ending all wars, civil conflicts, and gender-based violence across Africa.

Following an extension of the original 2020 timeline by the AU Assembly, the continent is working under a strict deadline to achieve a weapon-free status by 2030. By integrating formal judiciary systems with trusted community and religious leaders, the African Union aims to accelerate weapon disposal, boost local ownership of peace processes, and secure development for future generations.

People, Purpose, Progress: The Legacy of Leadership

At the end of every leadership journey, people may not remember every speech delivered, meeting attended, or policy introduced. What they often remember is how a leader made them feel, the vision they inspired, and the positive changes they helped create.

A meaningful leadership legacy is built on three simple but powerful pillars: People, Purpose, and Progress.

People: The Lives We Touch

Leadership is first and foremost about people. It is about listening, encouraging, mentoring, and creating opportunities for others to thrive. The strongest leaders understand that their success is measured not by how far they rise, but by how many others they lift along the way.

Years from now, the true story of a leader will be told through the lives they influenced, the teams they strengthened, and the communities they empowered.

Purpose: The Reason We Lead

Every great leader is driven by something bigger than themselves. Purpose provides direction when the path is uncertain and strength when challenges arise. It is the conviction that the work being done matters and that every effort contributes to a greater good.

Leaders who are guided by purpose inspire trust because people can see that their decisions are rooted in service, values, and a desire to make a difference.

Progress: The Change We Leave Behind

Leadership is not only about vision; it is about turning vision into reality. Progress is reflected in stronger institutions, safer communities, better opportunities, and improved lives.

A lasting legacy is created when positive change continues even after a leader's tenure has ended. The greatest leaders build foundations that others can continue to grow.

A Legacy That Endures

When leadership places people at its centre, remains anchored in purpose, and delivers meaningful progress, it creates a legacy that stands the test of time.

Because in the end, leadership is not about being remembered for what we achieved for ourselves. It is about being remembered for the people we served, the purpose we championed, and the progress we helped make possible.

"The true measure of leadership is not the position we hold, but the lives we touch, the purpose we pursue, and the progress we leave behind."

AN URGENT PLEA

A gentle reminder beams through the sunshine,
A subtle echo swims through the breeze,
Reminding us about the tears of our common home. With the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat, which mother EARTH gives freely,
Are we able to honestly account for our Stewardship?
Are we confident to say we have been fair to nature?
Are we proud of how we are managing our natural resources and our Environment?

What can YOU and I do differently in our little ways to STOP further degradation of our environment?

Although the answer is it nature, we need to rethink our odd ways and support efforts to redeem our natural environment.
When we deliberately take care of the environment, we’re taking care of ourselves and future generations.

We don’t have to do everything at once but small actions matter.
We must commit ourselves to make PEACE with Mother earth by saving our waterbodies, reducing waste, planting a tree, or simply being mindful of how we live and leverage on nature.
Through these little but intentional actions in our homes and communities, we can protect our planet and leave something beautiful for future generations. 🌍💚
"Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Future Generations" is clarion call to humanity to ACT right.
#NowforClimate is not just a slogan but an urgent plea to do the needful things we ought to do NOW. 

Hope for Life Launches Ruby Anniversary

The Hope for Life Project in Accra has launched its 40th Anniversary with an appeal for Christians to continue supporting efforts to empower Persons with Disabilities in our society.

At a holy Mass to commence the Anniversary at the St. Francis of Assisi Parish at Awoshie, Rev. Fr. Richard Anobel, reminded the faithful to look up to God in every situation and charging the PWDs to never lose hope. 

Reflecting on the on the Gospel of the day, the Priest entreated the faithful never to lose hope in God, noting that He always inviting us to trust in His providence. 

He urged the faithful to extend a hand of support to empower persons with disability in our society.

 The President of the Association, Mr. George Kyei, who together with Fr. Anobel launched the anniversary, commended the Catholic Church especially the Society of African Missions (SMA) Ghana Province for their contributions in starting the Hope for Life project.

He acknowledged the founding fathers and the great difference the project has contributed to the lives of hundreds of beneficiaries and mentioned Fr. Pius and Bro. Pascal Torsenu for their support.  

 The Hope for Life project which started in December 1986 at Queen of Peace Parish, Madina by Fr. John, SMA with a couple of PWDs, has now grown to 800 members and 18 branches in the Greater Accra, Eastern and Central Regions.

As part of efforts to sustain the Association, established a bakery and mushroom at Gbawe Zero in the Weija Municipality in Accra.

The President of the Hope for Life has over the years supported several beneficiaries to acquire essential trade skills, to setup self-help project as well as offering psychosocial support, facilitating surgeries and medication for PWDs.

As part of the anniversary, which is on the theme: “Empowered Together, Celebrating the Association’s Journey and Achievements,” the organisers have outlined a number of programmes including Media Engagements, Exhibition, Dinner and Fundraising.

Other activities are cleanup exercise, Durbar and Appreciation events to celebrate the collaborators who supported the Hope for Life initiative over the years. 

The Administrator of the Hope for Life Association, Ms. Stephanie Amartey recounting the impact the Association has made in the lives of persons with disabilities with hundreds of beneficiaries becoming self-reliant. 

She noted that some beneficiaries have become Teachers, Cobblers, Artisans, Dress makers, with others acquiring trade skills soap and bead making as well as farmers among others. 

She thanked the benefactors of the Hope for Life Association for their support over the years.  She also commended the two SMA lay missionaries who are offering care kids with disabilities among other interventions.

Peace Council Honours Fr. Thaddeus

The National Peace Council (NPC) has honoured Very Rev. Fr. Thaddeus Kuusah, President of the National Union of Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests' Associations and Administrator of the Our Lady of Anunciation Cathedral Parish, Tamale for his dedicated services in supporting peacebuilding in northern Ghana.

Hon. Alhaji Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, Minister for Interior in celebrating him, presented a citation, acknowledging his contributions to the resolution of several conflicts during his tenure as the first Northern Regional Executive Secretary for the National Peace Council from 2013-2025.

Another honouree was Mr. Douglas Ali Anankpieng former first National Peace Council Upper East Region Regional Executive Secretary. 

Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, Chairman of the NPC Governing Board and Vice President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, applauded the duo for their distinguished services to the nation and wished them a hearty and wonderful retirement. 

He commended them for their tremendous contribution to the peace and stability of the country and urged them to continue sharing their rich experiences to sustain the peace in the country.

The recognition of the duo was done during the Cooperate Governance and Public Financial Management Training for Directors and Regional Executive Secretaries in Accra. 

In a citation, the Council praised them for their significant contributions in securing the office facilities for the Northern Regional and the Upper East Regional Council respectively.

 

The Council mentioned their roles in resolving the Dagbon and Dorba-Kandinga conflicts among other strides in peacebuilding.

On behalf of the honouree, Fr. Thaddeus expressed appreciation to the Council for the honour done them, saying it was wonderful working with the Council and for contributing to the peacebuilding. 

He equally called for more Government funding in advancing the peace of the Country.

In all, Fr. Thaddeus had served for 22 years in public service, first as the Northern Regional Peace Coordinator, before becoming the National Peace Council Executive Secretary for Northern Region.