Akuoko Sarpongs Advises Chiefs To Avoid Divisive Tendencies

Nungua (Greater Accra), 15 Sept.,

Nana Akuoko Sarpong, Presidential Adviser on Chieftaincy Affairs, today advised traditional authorities to do away with divisive tendencies which can dampen communal spirit and hamper progress. Speaking at a two-day capacity building workshop on conflict resolution at Nungua, he said they should endeavour to respect laid down arrangement for succession and management of stool lands to avoid disputes. The workshop was organized jointly by the Friedrich-Naumann Foundation, International Alert, a United Kingdom-based non- governmental organization, and the Greater Accra Regional Co- ordinating Council. It was attended by divisional chiefs, heads of clans, opinion leaders and land owners drawn from the area as well as District Chief Executives from Tema, Dangbe East and West. Nana Akuoko said they should count themselves lucky to have the country's capital in their region which gives them greater advantage in terms of easy access to those in authority. Nana Akuoku Sarpong said ''If any of you should decide to style himself as a sub-chief to be able to sell land which is now lucrative, or fan conflicts, you are helping to destroy your own community and lose every opportunity this area is endowed with". He said the workshop should afford them the opportunity to settle their differences to enable the people of Nungua to select a substantive chief. Miss Theresa Tagoe, Member of Parliament for South Ablekuma, asked traditional authorities to strive to stamp out litigation if the usefulness of chieftaincy institution is not to be questioned. She said it would be unfortunate to allow the institution to be scrapped as a result of conflicts adding that this would deprive the whole country of her traditional heritage. Miss Tagoe called for cordial relationship between clans, sub- chiefs and chiefs to ensure peace, transparency and better management of stool lands. Madam Eva-Maria Kohler, Resident Representative of the Foundation, said instability and prolonged crisis at all levels are a threat to peace, economic growth and development. Measures on conflict resolution should be prepared and effective policies formulated. Madam Kohler noted that often hostility is not triggered by ethnic differences but by competition and rivalry between people of wealth and power. Mr. Napoleon Abdulai, Africa Policy Adviser of International Alert, said conflict is "the biggest business in Africa" and stressed the need to seek conflict resolution through dialogue. He called on land owners not to sell all their lands but reserve some for the youth adding when they are jobless, they would think about starting conflicts.