The Upper East Regional Peace Council has urged Ghanaians to recognise that investing in peace goes beyond financial contributions and includes how people manage their relationships, interactions and disagreements in everyday life.
Principal Programmes Manager of the Upper East Regional Peace Council, David Atualing Angaamba, said individuals can contribute to peace through their time, knowledge, relationships and conduct within their homes, workplaces and communities.
“It doesn’t require just money, even though money is necessary and important. But we’re talking about your time, we’re talking about your knowledge, we’re talking about your relationships, we’re talking about your interactions and other resources,” he said.
Speaking on A1 Radio as part of the 2026 International Day of Peace observance, Mr Angaamba said the occasion should encourage individuals to reflect on their personal contribution to peaceful coexistence.
He said people must become more conscious of how they communicate and respond to disagreements because everyday interactions can either strengthen relationships or contribute to conflict.
According to him, people are often quick to blame others when conflicts arise without examining how their own actions may have contributed to the situation.
“Sometimes as human beings we are quick to blame others, that this person is the root cause of this conflict or this problem I am going through. But sometimes we don’t pause to reflect on our own,” he said.
Mr Angaamba also highlighted the importance of collaboration between the Peace Council and civil society organisations in preventing and resolving conflicts in the Upper East Region.
He described the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Organisation (NABOCADO) as a key partner that has mobilised resources and supported peacebuilding interventions in conflict-affected communities.
He cited the Doba-Kandiga conflict, saying NABOCADO’s resource mobilisation, combined with technical support from the Peace Council and the involvement of traditional mediation structures, contributed to restoring peace in the area.
“In the Doba-Kandiga conflict today, we are all enjoying the peace prevailing, it is their initiative,” he said.
Mr Angaamba expressed hope that the conflict would remain in the past and acknowledged other civil society organisations contributing to peacebuilding efforts across the region.
He stressed, however, that sustaining peace cannot depend only on interventions after conflicts have erupted.
Mr Angaamba therefore urged individuals to treat their everyday conduct as an investment in peace by promoting dialogue, tolerance and peaceful coexistence in their homes, workplaces and communities.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Apiah | Bolgataga
