Archbishop suggests traditional method to solve Dagbon crisis

Cape Coast, April 23, GNA - The Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi, Most Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong, has said it was possible to solve the Dagbon crisis if the feuding parties adhered to the traditional method of conflict resolution being spearheaded by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

He said the circumstances surrounding the conflict were so entrenched and delicate that no political argument, be it the law of criminality, or the law of justice, could be used to solve it. Most Rev Sarpong said this at the 8th Theology week celebration of the St Peter's Regional Seminary in Cape Coast under the theme "priestly formation and the promotion of reconciliation and peace: challenges and perspectives."

Delivering a paper on the topic, "traditional Ghanaian means of promoting and/or re-establishing peace: strengths and weaknesses in contemporary Ghana," he said a committee led by the Asantehene, using the traditional method, had been able to draw up an 18-point road map and that the two most important, the installation of a regent and the burial of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani 11, had already been met. He said it was unfortunate that when the committee was "getting to the close of the tunnel, somebody in Accra brings a modern solution - we should find out the culprits and deal with them - aggravating the situation," he said.

Most Rev Sarpong appealed to the two gates to reach a consensus by "giving in here and there" and also leave out "contemporary thinking" in the exercise to make it easier for the committee to clear the 16 points that had been left. He appealed to civil society to stop interfering in the exercise to enable the Asantehene to have the issue resolved for lasting peace to prevail.

The Archbishop Emeritus also cited the Nkonya-Alanyo conflict in the Volta Region that had existed for more than 80 years and said "unless somebody finds out a traditional way of solving the problem there, it will never disappear." He said issues that generate conflict include land, property and partisan politics saying traditional modern means needed to be adopted to solve such misunderstandings. He urged all feuding parties in the country to avail themselves for peaceful settlements and reconciliation and that "reconciliation must put an end to all rancour, bigotry, bitterness and bad blood."

Court remands woman "boxer"

Suhum (E/R), April 23, GNA - Ama Takyiwah, a 42-year-old woman, who often engages in fights at funerals, was on Thursday, remanded in police custody by the Suhum Magistrate Court after she had fought with a fellow woman at a funeral.

Police Chief Inspector Ben Brew, prosecuting, told the court presided over by Mr Ansah Awuah, that there was a funeral at Suhum Oforikrom, which the complainant, Hanna Awusi and Takyiwah attended. He said during the funeral, Takyiwah engaged in a fight with some people and the complainant went to separate them. The prosecutor said after the intervention, Takyiwah, who became offended, turned on the complainant and slapped resulting in a scuffle but they were prevented from fighting. He said while the complainant was on her way to her house, Takyiwah hit her head with a stick and she fell down unconscious. 23 April 09