Interior Minister, Prosper Bani has disclosed that government will dissolve the existing National Peace Council board and reconstitute a new one hopefully next week.

He is confident the new Council would be given the needed power to nip any predictable violence in the bud.

The current 13-member Council chaired by Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante was inaugurated by late President Atta Mills in November 2011. Most Rev Prof Asante told the media in March that Peace Council has completed its term of office.

The core function of the Council is to facilitate and develop mechanism to prevent, manage, and resolve conflict and to build sustainable peace in Ghana.

Addressing a gathering after inspecting the United Nations Humanitarian depot in Accra, Prosper Bani was upbeat about the yet-to-be inaugurated National Peace Council board.

“We are in the process of reconstituting the Peace Council, I believe by next week when his excellency the president makes some time, I believe we will inaugurate the new Peace Council, which will then have the power and authority to engage directly on situations where we believe will create conflicts and disagreements that may lead to violence.”

The minister also assured that the government is engaging its partners around the sub-region and sharing intelligence to ensure a peaceful election.

“And come November 7, I want to assure you all that the security of citizens of this country is very paramount to the government and everything possible will be done to ensure that our people exercise their democratic rights in peace,” he said.

VIGILANTE GROUPS

Responding to a question from a member of the UN Humanitarina team concerning the activities of vigilante groups attached to political parties, Prosper Bani was emphatic it is unlawful to have those groups.

“These groups are very illegal and cannot be tolerated as any legal or alternative security arrangement for any political party,” he stated.
Prosper Bani said the political parties have clearly been communicated to that the activities of the vigilante youth groups are illegal.

He said conversation is ongoing for the state to provide security to political leaders going into the 2016 general elections.

Other members of the current Peace Council included Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyinah, President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, Nana Susubribi Krobea Asante, Asokorehene; Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference; Sheikh Mahmoud Gedel and Alhaji Adam Abubakar, both of the Office of the Chief Imam.

The former Ameer and Missionary-in-Charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Movement, late Maulvi Dr Wahab Adam was a member.