By Iddi Yire

Accra, July 15, GNA – Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, the Minister for the Interior/National Security, has commended the National Peace Council for working tirelessly to resolve 429 conflict cases.

The conflicts, he said, included 168 chieftaincy disputes, 105 land-related conflicts, and 57 ethnic disputes.

Alhaji Muntaka gave the commendation in his Mid-Year Review Report for the Ministry of the Interior/National Security at a press conference at the Presidency in Accra.

The press conference, which was organised by the Presidency Communication Bureau, dubbed the “The Governance Accountability Series”, is part of efforts by the Government to deepen transparency and accountability in governance.

He noted that within the last six months, the National Peace Council had relocated its head office from Osu to Roman Ridge in Accra.

He described the new facility as a more befitting space, where it would help them to improve whatever they were doing there.

He said the Council had inaugurated its Savannah and Ahafo Regional Peace Councils, which expanded regional peace, architecture, and mediation capacity.

Alhaji Muntaka said the Council had also established local and community peace committees in conflict-prone areas, particularly across the five regions of the North, despite funding challenges.

Touching on the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, the Minister said it had renovated its head office building, providing a better space for staff to function effectively.

He said the Commission had established the Students Against Firearm Trafficking Club in Elubo in the Western Region, supporting the fight against arm trafficking in border communities.

He said over the years, staff of the Commission had been working without a scheme of service; stating that, “thankfully, this has been finalised to streamline human resource management.”

The Minister said the Commission had hosted the United Nations Organisation Drug and Crime Planning Meeting in Accra and was working towards a joint cross-border strategy against arm trafficking.

Concerning the Ghana Refugee Board, the Minister said the Board had registered 1,522 new refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from Burkina Faso, and maintains an accurate database to strengthen security and humanitarian planning, whilst maintaining an updated and accurate database.

He said the Ghana Refugee Board had successfully integrated 500 Ivorian refugees and given them indefinite residence permits in collaboration with the United Nations Commission for Human Rights and the Ghana Immigration Service, whilst promoting durable solutions and legal inclusion.

Alhaji Muntaka said the Board had launched the Upper West Registration Campaign, processing an estimated 7,000 Burkinabes, who had moved to Ghana for protection and documentation.

With regards the Gaming Commission of Ghana had conducted compliance monitoring investigations, whilst enforcing operational standards and regulatory compliance.

The Minister said the Commission had expanded their regional presence by securing four regional offices in Ho in the Volta Region, Agona Swedru in the Central Region, Sefwi Wiawso in the Western North Region and Asante Bekwai in the Ashanti Region, deepening regulatory oversight and bringing services closer to gaming operators and stakeholders.

He said the Commission also conducted 67 routine monitoring exercises, reviewed CCTV footages and verified eight inventories.

In that regard, the Minister noted that two illegal casinos had been clamped down in Osu and Tema.

Thereafter, administrative penalties were imposed to ensure compliance and protect players.

He noted that furthermore, the Commission had engaged the Ghana Revenue Authority and operators to rule out the gaming administrative monitoring system (GAMS), laying the foundation for real-time revenue monitoring as well as improving transparency and regulatory oversight.

Additionally, he said the Commission had initiated a plan for a rehabilitation center in the Ashanti Region to support the programme of GAMS.

Alhaji Muntaka said the National Identification Authority had registered over 18 million Ghanaians, including 190,775 in 2025 alone, and 210,498 foreigners, including 10,290 in 2025, issuing 17,534,360 Ghanaian cards.

This, he said had enabled integration with key systems like the Ghana Revenue Authority, the National Health Insurance Scheme, and the Senate, improving financial inclusion and security.

GNA

Edited by Benjamin Mensah