National Peace Council marks World Peace Day in Kumasi

The National Peace Council has marked World Peace Day 2026 in Kumasi under the theme, “Invest in Peace for Everyone.”

Addressing the gathering, the Chairperson of the National Peace Council in the Ashanti Region, Dr Harriet Takyi, said the World Peace Day celebration is dedicated to promoting peace, non-violence, dialogue and peaceful coexistence among people and communities.

She said the celebration provides an opportunity not only to celebrate the value of peace but also to reflect on the responsibility each person carries in sustaining it.

Dr Takyi noted that sustaining peace does not come on a silver platter but requires continuous effort.

“Peace is not a static condition that is achieved once and maintained without effort. It is an active and continuous commitment with a clear intention,” she said.

“Genuine peace requires that we allocate resources, use institutional capacities, and design inclusive frameworks that extend protection across all parts of society, leaving no community at the margins.”

For his part, the Paramount Chief of Asante Nte Akyem Domeabra, Baffour Owusu Bediako, commended the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for his “pristine leadership”, which he said has contributed immensely to sustaining peace in the region.

“I highly commend him for using traditional diplomacy and customary authority to resolve a vast majority of chieftaincy and land disputes outside the formal court systems,” he said.

He pointed out that persistent chieftaincy disputes are a leading cause of internal conflicts across the country, posing significant challenges to national security and local development.

He emphasised that peace must become the most valuable currency for all, stressing the need for transparency in land administration, succession planning and effective community governance to enable leaders to build trust.

Nana Baffour Owusu Bediako further emphasised the need for local governments and traditional councils to embrace unity to advance the cause of peace.

“They must establish avenues of mediation for issues concerning them. We must sit at the table as stewards, serving the same community, rather than as rivals vying for a seat in order to strengthen connections,” he advised.

The traditional leader observed that conflict thrives when people have idle hands and when access to economic opportunities is restricted.

“Investing in sustainable agriculture, technical education and entrepreneurship are all ways to promote peace. No political or traditional ruler can persuade a young person to carry a rifle or cutlass when they are able to support themselves,” he said.

He finally called on all stakeholders to join hands in creating peace to make the country a better place.

“Let us create an atmosphere of harmony and peace to make our country one we all dream of and hope for,” he concluded.