Chieftaincy poses danger to peace and development

Kpando, Sept 16, GNA - Mr Francis Ganyaglo, Kpando District Chief Executive, has said the precariousness of emerging chieftaincy disputes in four out of the district's 12 traditional areas posed danger to the peace, social cohesion and development.

He mentioned the volatile areas as Awate, Kpando, Sovie and Wusuta. Mr Ganyaglo said this to members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence, Interior and National Security on tour of the Volta Region to familiarize themselves with problems of the security services.

He said another security concern was simmering tension between the indigenes and people the Volta River Authority had settled in the area following the construction of the Volta Dam.

Mr Ganyaglo said by and large the security situation was relatively peaceful in the district and called for assistance towards combating the widespread cultivation of narcotics mostly funded by foreigners on the islands in the Volta Lake with special appeal to the military, Air Force and the Navy.

Mr Kojo Banson, Hohoe Divisional Commander of Bureau of National Investigation (BNI), said illegal chainsaw and timber felling, cocoa smuggling and petty crime were gaining currency. He said overloading of boats on the Volta Lake was still rampart but added that the inter-security service dialogue was dealing with these issues.

Mr Victor-Hermann Condobrey, the Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, called for greater collaboration between the municipality and security services towards curbing crime.

Alhaji Abukari Sumani, Chairman of the Committee and Member of Parliament for Tamale North, said the Committee would explore avenues and advice government accordingly on how to integrate the role of the traditional authority in the maintenance of internal peace.