Some residents of Nkonya are calling on President John Dramani Mahama to intervene in the protracted communal conflict between them and Alavanyo and probe into the activities of the Volta Regional Security Council (REGSEC).
[contextly_sidebar id=”tXLwcU73swMlLQhVBo3TmN5vZ6p7HLVv”]At a press conference at Nkonya-Nchumuru, the group that calls itself ‘Coalition of Orphans, Widows and Victims of Nkonya-Alavanyo Conflict’ alleged that some people were using the conflict to perpetrate evil in the area.
The group which expressed a waning confidence in the activities of the REGSEC accused the council of laxity in handling violent cases in the area.
They explained that REGSEC’s failure to isolate various criminal cases in the area and deal with them assertively as expected has resulted in further loss of lives and properties in the two areas.
The spokesperson for the group, Cosmos Sarpong also accused some members of REGSEC for exploiting the situation.
He said the community was taken aback when REGSEC stopped an almost fruitful mediation process by young volunteers of Youth for Peace and Security-Africa (YPS-AFRICA) who been in their communities since 4th December 2013.
The group who also questioned the 14 hour curfew saying it has rather compounded their problems as their people continue to face attacks and economic hardship.
He said, “The curfew exposes us to more danger, poverty, harassment and economic hardship,” as shootings continue in the area especially during the curfew hours.’’
They have among other things petitioned the President to institute an independent commission to investigate the activities of REGSEC in the peace building process as well as review the curfew hours.
Meanwhile the Volta Regional Minister Hon Hellen Adjoa Ntoso told Citi News the concerns of the group were not legitimate. She maintained the sole aim of the peace council is to bring a lasting peace to the area plagued with the 90-year-old conflict adding that it would be wrong for the group to misconstrue the good works of the council.
She therefore assured residents of Alavanyo-Nkonya of commitment to bring a lasting peace to the area and advised the people to support and comply with the mediation process.
Attempts were made by governments and institutions to bring lasting peace between the two traditional areas. In August 2013 President John Dramani Mahama invited the leadership of the two traditional areas to Accra.
During discussions facilitated by the then Interior Minister Kwesi Ahwoi, the two leaders resolved on behalf of their people not to fight again. Months after, one of the soldiers on peace-keeping in the area was shot by unknown gunmen and he sustained gunshot injuries.
Weeks after there were also reports of sporadic gunshots in the area claiming a live and injuring many others. Although the paramount chiefs of the two traditional areas have apologised for bridging the peace agreement, the unrest and lawlessness in the two feuding communities has not stopped.
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By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana