Sekondi, Sept. 7, GNA - The Western Regional Peace Advisory Council (WRPC) has elected Mr Augustine L. Aggrey, Deputy Western Regional Director of National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) as its chairman.

He polled six votes to beat Osagyefo Kwamina Enimil, Omanhene of Wassa Fiase Traditional Area, who received one vote. The elections were held as part of the first meeting of the Council at Sekondi and also drafted programmes that they would organise between now and December 2007.

The Council elected Osagyefo Enimil as the vice chairman unopposed while Madam Philomena Asafua was elected as the treasurer. Mr George A. Naykene, who represents the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on the Council, was appointed as the public relations officer.

Bishop Andrews Okoh, retired, the Western Regional Peace Promoter, appealed to members of the Council to work hard and to assist in resolving the numerous chieftaincy, land and communal disputes in the Region.

He said the disputes had arisen due to the several natural resources available in the Region and stressed that the resources should rather unite the people.

Bishop Okoh appealed to all members to ensure that they did not create conflicts in their homes, asking: "How can you mediate peace in your neighbour's house when you do not have peace in your own home?" Mr Anthony E. Amoah, Western Regional Minister, who inaugurated the Council on August 28 2007 on the members of the Council to support the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) in defusing tension and to facilitate the non-violent resolution of conflicts in the Region. Members of the Council include representatives of the media; religious groupings; civil society organisations; youth and women groups and members if the REGSEC.

He also tasked the Council to mediate inter-district conflicts, coordinate the activities of district peace councils; embark on public education and to work to prevent conflicts.

Mr Amoah noted that conflict was a hindrance to development and the formation of the Council was meant to enable law-abiding citizens to go about their business without any hindrance.

He said the role of REGSEC and DISEC in conflict situations were only reactive and had not led to the resolving of the issues at stake. "The Council forms part of the national architecture for peace-building and must facilitate the development mechanisms for cooperation among all relevant stakeholders in the country" he stressed. Mr Amoah noted that the numerous land, chieftaincy and religious conflicts in the Region, was putting undue pressure on the resources of the District Assemblies.

"The Region has lately been plagued with conflicts between mining companies and communities requiring land in the concessions of some of the mining companies to undertake small scale mining" he said. Mr Amoah, therefore, called on members of the Council to act quickly to resolve the various conflicts in the Region and create the required environment for peace and development.

Mr Abdulai Bawumiah of the Peace building Unit of the Ministry of the Interior said since 2004 the Ministry had been advocating the use of non-violent methods in conflict resolution in the country. He said many initiatives aimed at solving conflicts had not critically looked into the causes of conflicts.

Mr Bawumiah, therefore, stressed that peace and stability were vital ingredients for development and all stakeholders should take it serious.