Brigadier General Benjamin Freeman Kusi, a former Deputy Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), has emphasised the need for African leaders to institute proactive mechanisms to sustain peace rather than take their current peaceful environment for granted.
He added that most of the countries which had experienced conflicts, civil wars, religious contention and human right violations were as a result of things they took for granted.
Brigadier Gen. Kusi, speaking at the annual peace symposium of the Rotary Club of Accra, stated that many of the conflicts and human rights violations could have been avoided if developments had been analysed properly and appropriate measures taken.
That, he noted, had resulted in loss of lives, human suffering and waste of resources that had adversely affected development in the country.
Preventive diplomacy
Dubbed ‘Preventive Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution,’ the symposium was aimed at bringing out ideas and issues regarding peace in the sub-region and Ghana.
He said Africa had made significant progress in the quest to attain peace, development and stability in the past years.
Going forward, he touched on the causes and resolutions of conflicts among people and countries, adding that preventive diplomacy was the best tool in resolving issues among individuals or countries.
“Preventive diplomacy will promote the exchange of information, stronger collaboration and quicker reaction to threats before they degenerate into crisis,” he said.
That, he said, was the surest way to achieve socio-economic development and sustainable peace.
According to Brig. Gen. Kusi, the laws in the country, including bye-laws, should be enforced without fear or favour to have disciplined citizens.
He acknowledged the critical role of a responsible clergy for national peace and development.
He commended the National Peace Council (NPC) for its immense support in ensuring and managing crises in the country, especially during the last presidential election.
Resolving conflicts
The Chairman of the peace symposium of Accra Rotary, Ambassador James Aggrey-Orleans, in his remarks also said, currently, there were lots of intra- and inter-personal conflicts which needed attention.
He said people were going through all kinds of conflicts and stress, adding that the African Peer Review Mechanism must step up its performance in conflict resolution.
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