Accra, GNA, April 19 - According to Reverend Dr. Ernest Adu Gyamfi, Chairman of the National Peace Council, the public should be judged on how they treat National Peace Council members.
"This time, it's important to let the public know that the Council's work is unpaid. Nobody on the Peace Council is employed and receives a pay.
People should be judged by the manner they disrespect or criticize the Peace Council since these people are prominent members of society.
When the Council met with representatives of the major political parties at Osu in Accra to discuss the use of hate speech and other obscene language, Rev. Dr. Adu Gyamfi made the following statement.
He regretted that the media typically provided people with a forum to mistreat them.
The National Peace Council has observed the fast growth of the phenomenon of hate speech and indecent expressions, and that this behavior was particularly prevalent during election years.
He maintained that the Council was awake and actively working to maintain the nation's peace.
According to him, the Council was working on 292 cases, of which 112 involved chieftaincy difficulties. As a result, the Council was engaged in a number of activities.
He clarified that the Council dealt with matters other than politics and mentioned meetings it held with the National Democratic Congress leadership, the New Patriotic Party, GPRTU members, and market women, among others, to discuss concerns like vigilantism.
"We have discussions with the leadership in a number of politically charged areas across the nation and are actively involved in the Bawku concerns. We also received training on terrorist themes, and among others, issues of marine piracy have been discussed with fishermen in Ada and Elmina.
However, some claim that the Peace Council is dormant and that they only speak up at election times.