Gonjas and Konkombas organise reconciliation ceremony at Kitoe

Kitoe (Northern Region), 29th June 99 -

Konkombas and Gonjas at Kitoe in the East Gonja district have attended a joint durbar of the chiefs and people to signify the formal end of hostilities between them after the 1994 ethnic conflict.

The durbar, organised by the District Security Committee (DISEC), followed a series of negotiations between members of the committee and Konkomba opinion leaders to pave the way for the return of Gonjas displaced by the conflict.

Twelve Konkomba community chiefs, who attended the ceremony, presented rams for sacrifice to show their commitment to reconciliation and integration with the Gonjas.

The District Chief Executive, Mr Jerry Draman Jackson, commended the two ethnic groups for their show of maturity, which made the ceremony possible.

He appealed to the Nawuris, who are disputing the Gonja claim of ownership of Kpandai lands, to take a cue from the reconciliation process and soften their "entrenched position".

Mr Jackson said now that peace and stability have returned to the district, it is no longer tenable for some of the decentralised government departments to operate under the Nanumba district assembly and asked the departments concerned to revert to their own assemblies.

Mr Jackson announced plans to open inaccessible communities in the Klaw and Jpariba area councils to development, especially in the provision of potable water and roads.

He appealed to the Community Water and Sanitation Agency and the Department of Feeder Roads to complement the efforts of the district assembly.