General News of Saturday, 18 May 2024

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Peace Council 'outright waste of taxpayers' money' - Omane Boamah, Sam George fume

Edward Omane Boamah is director of elections and IT for the NDC Edward Omane Boamah is director of elections and IT for the NDC

The National Peace Council has come under attack from two top members of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The two critics, Edward Omane Boamah, a campaign lead for former president John Dramani Mahama and Sam George, a Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram; insist that the council in its current form was a waste of government resources.

In the case of Omane Boamah, he stated in a social media post dated May 17, he said the Council like the presidential advisory body, Council of State, needed to be abolished.

His post was accompanied by the Peace Council's recent advice that political parties should have confidence in the Jean Mensa-led Electoral Commission (EC).

The NDC has in the last few months sternly critiqued the EC over a myriad of issues, including the theft of electoral materials and what they say is irregular disposal of some machines.

Their recent critique is related to the challenges being faced with the limited voter registration exercise.

"Another reason Ghanaians must abolish the Peace Council! Same must apply to the Council of State.

"The Peace Council doesn't care about stolen components of Biometric Voter Registration kits from the hqtrs of the EC under CCTV surveillance? Outright waste of taxpayers' money!" his post read.

"I have always maintained and repeat that the Peace Council is the most useless institution in Ghana today. Even more useless than the Presidency. A bunch of sycophants who have sold their conscience for cheap broth. Such a waste of our time," Sam George's post on X read.

About the NPC

The NPC is an independent statutory national peace institution established by the eight hundred and eighteenth (818) Act of the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, named The National Peace Council Act, 2011.

Thus any activity undertaken by the Council must be derived from its mandate under Act 818. The core function of the Council is to prevent, manage, and resolve conflict and to build sustainable peace.

With the passing of Act 818, NPC became operational in 2011. Its establishment abolished the previous peace strategy of National, Regional and District Security Councils that established Regional Peace Advisory Councils (RPACs) and District Peace Advisory Councils (DPACs).

The National Peace Council comprises at the national level of a governing body known as the Board of thirteen eminent persons appointed by the President.

The appointment is for a period of four years but a Board member may resign or membership may be revoked by the President for stated reasons. There is also an Executive Secretary appointed by the President, responsible for day to day administration of the affairs of the Council.