The National Peace Council (NPC) has commended Government security Agencies and the command unit of the Ghana Police and Armed Forces for their rapid response to the various sites of violence nationwide in the past weeks.

The Most Rev. Emmanuel Asante, chairman of NPC who read a statement on behalf of the Council at a brief ceremony in Accra on Thursday, said the protection of lives and property required a coordinated effort from the security agencies deployed to violence-prone areas and various stakeholders including members of parliament, regional coordinating council members and the NPA.

Rev Asante said the Council had observed violent incidents in some parts of the country including Tindongo and Namologo in the Upper East Region, Tishigu in the Northern Region, Ekumfi Narkwah in the Central Region and Hohoe in the Volta Region.

He commended the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osumanu Nuhu Sharubutu and the respective regional ministers for their efforts to restore calm in those troubled areas.

He further expressed condolences on behalf of the nation to the families who had lost their dear ones in all instances of violence nationwide.

Rev. Asante urged all parties to the violence to exercise restraint whiles platforms were being created for dialogue and negotiations on issues that had resulted in the disturbances.

“A life lost in any form of violence is unacceptable, because there are institutions that exist for resolving conflicts and settling of differences”, he added

He indicated that it would be very beneficial for feuding parties to sit and dialogue over their concerns with openness and good intention, with the aim of protecting life and property.

Rev. Asante mentioned chieftaincy, ethnicity and religious factors as some causes of violence in the identified areas nationwide, emphasizing that "we have lived with and managed such social differences in times past, and have forged ahead as a people."**