National Peace Council Establishes Local Peace Committee in Kongo to Curb Violent Extremism

The National Peace Council (NPC) has inaugurated a nine-member Local Peace Committee (LPC) in Kongo, located in the Tempane District, as part of a strategic move to fortify peacebuilding and prevent violent extremism in the region. This initiative forms a critical component of the "Governance, Rule of Law, and Peacebuilding for Sustainable Development Project," a collaborative effort between the NPC and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Supported by international funding from Denmark, Norway, and South Korea, the project aims to establish grassroots mechanisms that can address local tensions before they escalate into larger conflicts.

The formation of the committee followed an intensive two-day training workshop led by NPC representatives, including Mr. Damien Asobayire. The training was designed to equip the committee members and community monitors with the professional skills needed for conflict resolution and mediation. A key focus of the curriculum was the identification of early warning signs, which allows the committee to facilitate timely interventions. Mr. Asobayire emphasized that the role of these local mediators is to facilitate dialogue and understanding rather than to impose external decisions on the community.

To ensure the committee is representative of the community it serves, the NPC selected nine members from diverse groups, including youth and women leaders. This inclusive structure is particularly aimed at addressing local land-related tensions and farmland disputes, which have been identified as primary sources of friction in the Tempane District. By empowering local leaders with mediation techniques, the project seeks to foster social cohesion and ensure that disputes are settled through peaceful negotiation rather than confrontation.

Following the workshop, the committee developed a formal action plan to guide their peace maintenance efforts and community advocacy. Participants expressed high levels of confidence in their newly acquired skills, pledging to serve as proactive agents of peace. As the committee begins its work, the NPC expects this decentralized approach to serve as a sustainable model for maintaining stability and promoting peaceful coexistence across the Upper East Region.