Traditional leaders are vital to peacebuilding – KAIPTC Dep. Commandant

The Deputy Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Brigadier General Zibrim Bawah Ayorrogo, has reiterated the crucial role of traditional leaders in conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and sustaining Ghana’s social cohesion.

Delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 2025 Teshie Homowo School on Thursday, October 2, Brig. Gen. Ayorrogo emphasised that traditional leadership is not merely ceremonial, but a strategic pillar in addressing Ghana’s evolving security landscape.

“The role of traditional leaders in building peace and resolving conflicts is pertinent in our Ghanaian society and in our local governance system,” he said.

“At KAIPTC, we recognise the invaluable role traditional rulers play in fostering peace and harmony in our communities.”

The event drew several dignitaries and traditional authorities, including Gbetsoolo Nii Ashitey Akomfra III, the Paramount Chief of Teshie and President of the Teshie Traditional Council, who hosted the programme.

Also present were queen mothers, community elders, and government representatives, all gathered under the theme: “One People, One Culture, One Heritage: Building Capacities to Strengthen Traditional Leadership for Peace.”

Brig. Gen. Ayorrogo highlighted a broad array of challenges facing Ghana and the wider West African region from land and chieftaincy disputes, illegal mining, and farmer-herder conflicts, to youth unemployment, radicalisation, drug abuse, political polarisation, and misinformation via social media.

“These challenges require the active involvement of traditional rulers, given the central role they play in community life,” he noted. “To address them effectively, we must empower our custodians with enhanced skills, knowledge, and strategies.”

The Homowo School initiative, now in its second year, is designed to provide practical tools and training to traditional leaders through specialised modules on conflict mediation, negotiation techniques, and community governance.

“Building capacity through training, dialogue, and exchanging ideas is not a luxury it is a necessity,” Brig. Gen. Ayorrogo affirmed.

“It enables our chiefs to preserve traditions, maintain community identity, and promote peaceful coexistence.”

He stressed that empowered and confident chiefs can act swiftly to de-escalate local tensions and mediate disputes before they spiral into violence.

“A confident traditional leader can bring feuding factions to the negotiation table and become a beacon of stability in difficult and challenging times.”

Calling on all participants to make the most of the seminar, the Deputy Commandant urged chiefs and elders to share their experiences and insights.

“Nii mei, Naa mei, I encourage you to open up, share your rich expertise and ideas during the sessions,” he said. “When we build your capacity, we build the peace of our dear nation. A peaceful and harmonious Ghana begins in our palaces, our communities and most importantly in our hearts,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, the Regional Registrar, Mr Enoch Addo commended KAIPTC for its continued investment in traditional leadership and conflict prevention.

“The KAIPTC, through the annual Teshie Homowo School, is significantly supporting efforts to address many of the chieftaincy issues we face in our region,” he remarked.

“The Ministry pledges its full support and promises to work towards making this a national programme.”

The Registrar recalled how some festival celebrations, including Homowo, had been marred in the past by violent incidents, despite their intended role as unifying cultural expressions.

“Festivals, which are meant to unite us, have sometimes ended in loss of life and destruction of property,” he lamented.

He expressed hope that under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, traditional leaders would continue to champion peace, reconciliation, and community harmony.

“It is my prayer that His Excellency the President and our traditional leaders will continue to create a peaceful atmosphere for our festivals, making our communities safer and more harmonious,” he added.

The Registrar also praised the calibre of facilitators delivering the training, noting their “profound knowledge of chieftaincy governance and expertise in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.”

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