AS part of measures to ensure sustainable peace and harmonious co-existence among the various political parties and chieftaincy divide in the Tamale metropolis, a 21-member Peace Advisory Council and Task Force has been inaugurated in Tamale.
The initiative, which is dubbed “Bilchinsi,” is to help in reclaiming the cherished values, culture, discipline and respect for the elderly which the metropolis has since been noted for. It is also to restore the metropolis to its proper image, befitting its status as one of the fastest growing cities in the sub-region.
The membership of the council includes chiefs, religious and opinion leaders, as well as representatives of youth groups.
They are to be supported by task forces that will be responsible for organising activities at the grass roots.
The council will also play an advisory role to support the Metropolitan Security Committee (METSEC) in its responsibility to ensure peace and security in the area.
The occasion attracted prominent interest groups in the metropolis, including members of the assembly, representatives of political parties, non-governmental organisations, chiefs and religious leaders.
Also present was a member of the Council of State, Kpan-Naa M.B. Bawah and the Zo-simli Naa (Chief of Companionship), Susan Herlin.
The Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, Alhaji Abdulai Haruna Friday, described the ceremony as very important and a milestone in the history of the metropolis. He expressed the hope that the initiative would put Tamale in a positive spotlight to attract the needed investment and opportunities for growth.
He explained that the Bilchinsi concept was arrived at after deliberations by the Metropolitan Security Committee (METSEC) to actively involve stakeholders in the initiation, planning and implementation of the peace initiatives in the area that had witnessed some disturbances of late.
The Tamale MCE acknowledged that the task ahead for members of the advisory council was daunting, and “the road to achieving peace is long and rough; you will meet several obstacles, but I trust in your wisdom, maturity and ability to perform your duties impartially. I also entreat you to bring your experiences to bear on the discharge of your duties.”
He indicated that the security of the metropolis was a shared responsibility that must be linked to democracy, good governance and development, and therefore, appealed to the people to co-operate with the council to ensure that it discharged its duties effectively.
On his development agenda for the metropolis, Alhaji Friday said electrification, health, education, water, sanitation and waste management were some of the issues that would attract the attention of his administration.
He further announced that Tamale was among some cities that were to benefit from a French Development Agency intervention, and that feasibility studies were ongoing to determine the areas to benefit from the intervention.
For her part, the Zo-simli Naa admonished the people to always reflect on the outcome of the actions they embarked on, reminding them of the popular adage that says that, “actions speak louder than words”.
“We should be role models to the youth who look to us and are watching our utterances and activities; let us cherish and value the respect we have for one another,” she further advised.
Dr Herlin also underscored the importance of friendship, which she observed was a good basis for harmony and peaceful co-existence at the community and international stages at large. The title ‘Zo-simli Naa’ was conferred on her by the chiefs and people of Dagbon following her personal commitment to the bond of the sister-city relationship between the cities of Louisville in the USA and Tamale.
The relationship was formally established in 1979.
The metropolis has since benefited tremendously from the existing bond that includes a scholarship scheme for brilliant deprived students in the area.
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