Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, has hinted that government intends to build a permanent military base in the disputed area of Alavanyo and Nkonya in the Volta Region.
He said the base will continue to offer training to the military personnel who would be stationed at the place.
He expressed the hope that the resources would be found in this year’s budget to begin the construction of permanent structures in the zone.
[contextly_sidebar id=”6kbAYIFrFu8ud6Xq1qmRhYVTQUBuIYqY”]Vice President Amissah-Arthur announced this when he visited the Military and Police personnel stationed at both Alavanyo and Nkonya sides of the disputed area.
In December 2014, there were renewed clashes following gunshots that left one person dead in the area.
The violence in the two communities has persisted for years, despite several mediation attempts.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur also announced that government is also working with other prominent chiefs in the area to find a lasting solution to the decade-old conflict over the disputed land.
He said Togbe Dagadu the Eighth, Paramount Chief of Kpando, has offered to initiate a process of consultation and mediation, and expressed the confidence that it would succeed.
He said Togbe Dagadu has been given some few weeks to start his mediation effort, and to ensure that there is peace in the area.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur commended the military and police personnel stationed in the area for their hard work, and urged them to be neutral in the dispute.
He said people from the two communities have lived together for a long time, and because they have inter-married, it is almost difficult to separate them because they belong to both sides.
Brigadier-General Adeti, General Officer Commanding the Southern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, welcomed the move by government to build permanent structures for the military in the area.
He said despite the fact that most of the military personnel were currently staying in people’s houses within the community, they would ensure that the close interaction and fraternization between the military and the people were reduced, to enhance their neutrality in the dispute.
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Source: GNA