NCCE, UNDP organise forums on disputes

Apowa (W/R) Jan. 28, GNA- The National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) in collaboration with the UNDP has began a public forum for selected communities in the Ahanta West district to discuss the causes of disputes and their effects on socio-economic development.

Participants at the one-week programme, which has the theme "Entrenching peace for development", would discuss topics including "codification of line of succession, an antidote to chieftaincy disputes" and "Entrenching the culture of peace through social accommodation - implications for national development".

Madam Doris Ocansey, deputy chairperson of the NCCE on Tuesday opened the first of such forums at Apowa near Takoradi with a call on community leaders to lead the crusade against all forms of disputes that resulted in conflicts.

She told the participants which included chiefs, queen-mothers, and heads of families and leaders of the various religious organisations to cooperate with the government and institutions working to find lasting solution to the numerous chieftaincy and land disputes in the country. Madam Ocansey suggested to the chiefs to coordinate their efforts with other traditional leaders in the sub-region to bring permanent peace to the peoples of West Africa.

"In this way our traditional leaders would be working to enhance the operations of ECOWAS for the benefit of all", she said.

Mr. Kwaku Baa Owusu, Western Regional Director of NCCE said disputes in general tended to deepen ones knowledge and understanding and strengthen the culture of participation and involvement in the affairs of our community, society or nation.

However, disputes are abhorred and become unsocial when they resulted in conflicts.

He said many small disputes, even at marital levels, if not properly managed, could pose very serious challenges to the peace of a whole community.

Mr Owusu spoke about the need for community leaders to adopt negotiations, dialogue and mediation to solve conflicts instead of going to court.

Nenyi Akon Agyefi, member of the Afutu Traditional Council who spoke on the "codification of line of succession, an antidote to chieftaincy conflicts" said the constitutions give recognition to chieftaincy as an institution and chiefs should work hard to preserve the image of this noble institution.

He noted that the process of nomination, enstoolment and enskinment of chiefs, lineage, and destoolment are some of the major causes of chieftaincy disputes in the country.

Nenyi Agyefi said all traditional councils should be encouraged to codify chieftaincy practices to avoid rampant disputes. Mr. Kwame Amo, NCCE Ahanta West district director urged participants to take interest and participate actively in all discussions to stem chieftaincy and land disputes in the area.

Awulae Agyefi Kwame II, Omanhene of Nsein Traditional area who chaired the function, called for an end to chieftaincy disputes that tended to negatively affect the image of the institution.