The Savannah Regional Peace Council has called on stakeholders to prioritize peace, social cohesion, and human security in the region's development agenda. According to the Council, peace is a fundamental development investment and a prerequisite for sustainable economic growth. This call was made in a statement issued in commemoration of this year's International Day of Peace, themed "Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day".
The statement, signed by Reverend Father Lazarus Annyerreh, Chairman of the Savannah Regional Peace Council, emphasized that the region's considerable agricultural potential, natural resources, tourism opportunities, and youthful population can only translate into sustainable prosperity in an environment of peace and stability. The Council noted that conflict and insecurity can undermine development gains by diverting resources meant for essential services and disrupting economic activities.
The Savannah Regional Peace Council highlighted the importance of peace beyond the absence of war, including safety, dignity, opportunity, and cooperation. It requires deliberate investment in people, relationships, trust, institutions, dialogue, and sustainable development. The Council urged citizens to transform the region's cultural and ethnic diversity into a source of strength rather than division.
The statement called for deliberate efforts to create platforms for communities to listen to one another, address grievances peacefully, challenge stereotypes, counter misinformation, and resolve disagreements before they escalate into violence. Traditional authorities, political and religious leaders, youth organizations, women's groups, and civil society organizations have crucial roles to play in building trust and strengthening relationships across ethnic and cultural boundaries.
The Savannah Regional Peace Council emphasized that no community can develop sustainably at the expense of another and that the future of the region must be a shared responsibility. It noted that agriculture, agro-processing, tourism, and renewable energy can become powerful engines of transformation if supported by stable communities, predictable relationships, secure investments, and mutual trust.
The Council called for increased investment in early-warning and early-response systems, community dialogue, mediation, peace education, youth engagement, women's participation, and social cohesion as integral components of development planning. It also urged development partners and financing institutions to mainstream peace and conflict sensitivity into their programs and investments.
The Savannah Regional Peace Council called for investment in research and data to identify emerging social and security risks and functional institutions capable of supporting traditional structures to mediate disputes before they become violent. It urged leaders to recognize the influence of their words and actions on social cohesion and to prioritize relationships strengthened, tensions prevented, and communities brought together.
Key points
- Savannah Regional Peace Council calls for increased investment in peace infrastructure as development infrastructure.
- The council urges stakeholders to prioritize peace, social cohesion, and human security in the region's development agenda.
- The council emphasizes that no community can develop sustainably at the expense of another.
