By Joyce Danso/Tracy Amankwah Peprah
Accra, Dec. 07, GNA – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ghana has presented logistics worth thousands of Ghana cedis to the National Peace Council (NPC) at a ceremony in Accra.
The logistics comprising eight Swivel chairs, 16 visitor chairs, four steel cabinets and eight office tables, would be given to the Council’s offices in four newly created regions.
The regions are North-East, Bono East, Western North and Oti.
Speaking at the presentation, Mr Sukhrob Khoshmukhamedov, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Ghana, said the presentation was in line with achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16, which sought to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institution at all levels.
Mr Khoshmukhamedov said the UNDP had been instrumental in the journey of the NPC, adding since 2004, it had facilitated the establishment of the Northern Regional Peace Advisory Council (NORPAC) to support the peace process in Dagbon.
According to him, the success of NORPAC led to the creation of National Peace Architecture, including the passage of a Legislation leading to the establishment of the National Peace Council.
He said the UNDP had also witnessed the excellent work the Council had undertaken over the years, adding that the UNDP would continue to be a strong supporter and partner of the NPC and its operations.
The UNDP Deputy Resident Representative said his organisation had lent much support to the NPC to operationalise the Peace Fund, which had been a great tool to raise resources from all stakeholders, including the private sector in promoting peace in the country.
He said NPC had also benefitted more support in strengthening the capacity of staff and council members in delivering on their mandate as well as raising awareness on prevention of violent extremism through early warning mechanisms among others.
The UNDP Deputy Resident Representative said his organisation was elated to see that the NPC was expanding to reach many more areas in its bid to strengthen social cohesion and ensuring peace.
He was optimistic that the logistics would provide a conducive environment and promote the Council’s peace building initiatives across the country.
“Our support to the Peace Council aims to improve its capacity to deal with the changing dynamics of conflict and work towards a united country focused on a common goal.
UNDP will continue to play its leading role in supporting the development of inclusive accountability and resilient institutions such as the Peace Council as it is the only pathway to lasting peace and prosperity,” he added.
Rev. Dr. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman, NPC, who received the items, expressed profound gratitude to the UNDP for their enormous support to Ghana’s peace building over the years.
“UNDP has over the year partnered the National Peace Council in the execution of our core mandate of preventing, managing and resolving conflicts and building sustainable peace in Ghana.”
The NPC Chairman said UNDP’s support included capacity building programmes, funding of projects, purchase of key logistics; the latest being the procurement of desktop computers, laptops, printers, and scanners in the year 2021.
Dr Adu-Gyamfi was optimistic that the relationship between the NPC and UNDP would go from strenght to strength.
GNA