Peace Council expresses readiness to assist parties’ vigilante dialogue

The Chairman of the National Peace Council, Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, has said the Council is prepared to mediate the vigilantism dialogue between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party.

The NDC presented a letter to the President in which it copied the council, requesting for a third party like the National Peace Council and other civil society groups to mediate the dialogue between the parties.

Meanwhile, President Nana Akufo-Addo among other things, in his response to the NDC said he was dismayed by the conditions the party has set for a meeting with to endthe political violence and vigilantism.

The President said he saw “little basis” for some of the requests in his response to the NDC.

“I am dismayed, and I believe that the Ghanaian people share my dismay, that the two parties who have dominated and continue to dominate the politics of the fourth republic…cannot meet to dialogue on matters of our nation’s governance and political culture without the intervention of outsiders. It is important that we trust in our own capabilities to resolve our own problems,” the President said in his response to the NDC’s request.

However, the National Peace Council has expressed readiness to assist the two main political parties to hold fruitful talks in their quest to nip the activities of militia groups in the bud.

In a statement signed by the secretary of the council, George Amoh, the Peace Council said it appreciates the recognition given by the NDC as it falls in line with its role of resolving conflicts that have the tendency of destabilizing peace in the country.

“The Council acknowledges your letter with gratitude for recognizing the role that the Council could play in finding a solution to the worrying issue of violent political vigilantism in our national politics,” the statement read in part.

“The National Peace Council wants to assure you that it stands prepared to provide the necessary assistance and facilitation should the parties agree to the call for the Council to facilitate mediation,” the council noted in their statement.

“The call on the Council to mediate in the matter falls within the mandate of the Council which states in section two (2) of Act 818 thus ‘the object of the Council is to facilitate and develop mechanisms for conflict prevention, management, resolution and to build sustainable peace in the country,” the statement added.

Source: Adomonline.com