The National Peace Council has officially inaugurated a new 13-member Savannah Regional Peace Council with a strategic mandate to address persistent conflict triggers and foster sustainable peace across the region.
Rev. Father Lazarus Zeledeme Annyereh will chair the newly constituted council, which includes members drawn from traditional authorities, religious institutions, and civil society groups. The inauguration ceremony, held in Damongo, marked a renewed commitment to addressing some of the region’s most pressing conflict issues.
In his remarks, Savannah Regional Minister Mr. Salisu Bi-awuribe identified five critical peace and security challenges that the council must urgently confront: chieftaincy disputes, ethnic tensions, political rivalry, land disputes, and boundary conflicts.
“These are deeply rooted issues that continue to hinder development,” he said. “Your task is not only to resolve conflict but to proactively engage communities to prevent their escalation. Without peace, there is no foundation for progress.”
The Minister emphasized that resolving these issues was central to unlocking the region’s development potential, stressing that peace is the bedrock of effective governance and social transformation.
Adding his voice, Numo Blafo Akotia Omaetu III, a member of the National Peace Council, called on the new council to adopt an inclusive and collaborative approach. He urged members to engage chiefs, religious leaders, youth groups, and political actors in dialogue and mediation processes that build trust and unity.
The reconstitution of the council is part of a nationwide strategy to strengthen local peace infrastructure and empower regions to manage conflicts internally before they spiral into violence.
As tensions surrounding land ownership, succession rights, and political allegiances continue to simmer in parts of the Savannah Region, the new Peace Council faces a significant but vital task: to serve as guardians of dialogue, reconciliation, and regional stability.
