It's time for peace – Saboba Paramount Chief tells Konkombas and Chokosis

The Paramount Chief of Saboba, Bowan John Mateer Sakojim IV, has joined the call for peaceful coexistence between Konkombas and Anafos, widely known as Chokosis, in Saboba and Chereponi, in the Northern and North East regions respectively.

Making the call at his palace on Monday, Bowan Sakojim IV appealed to all parties in the latest flare up of violence to give peace a chance and continue to live peacefully with the Anafos.

The Paramount Chief made the call when Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia called on the chiefs and people of Saboba to join efforts to restore absolute peace and security in the area, following, an outbreak of violence a few weeks ago, leading to the death of one person with several others injured.

The Vice President was in the North East Region as part of his nationwide Ramadan tour, which took him to 15 regions.

He used the visit to pray with fellow Muslims and made the case for continued peaceful co-existence between persons of different faiths in Ghana.

Addressing the gathering, Saboba Paramount Chief Bowan Mateer Sakojim stated that the time for fighting was over, and it was now time to secure the peace.

“Mr Vice President, Konkombas are peace-loving people. We cherish peace more than any other person. It is interesting to know that Konkombas and Chokosis have lived for many years in harmony so what has come upon us today is something that is uncalled for.

“… I want to use this opportunity to appeal strongly to the youth and the people of Saboba and Chokosis that we should give peace a chance.

"Peace is the prerequisite for everything. We need a stable environment for our children to go to school. We need a stable environment for our farming activities, businesses and embrace government policies.

“So for that matter, whatever is militating against the achievement of peace in these two areas should be critically looked at".

To lend further credence to his call for peace, Bowan Mateer Sakojim IV said that plans were underfoot for a meeting between the chiefs of Saboba and their counterparts in Chereponi.



“I also want to use this opportunity to tell the Vice President that we have done a lot and we shall never relent in our efforts to achieve peace. "As we speak today, plans are underway for me to lead a delegation of chiefs to meet the Regent of Chereponi to talk on issues bothering the peace.

"I don't think that trip has been abandoned. We are still working out things and I'm collaborating with the District Chief Executives and then the MP whether they can facilitate that trip for us to meet the Regent of Chereponi so that we talk on matters affecting peace.

“I want to say that Konkombas and Chokosis are the same people. We have intermarried, a lot of common things existed between us and I don't think we have to bypass all those things just because we are killing one another.”

While expressing Government’s appreciation for the Saboba Chief’s peace-making efforts, Vice President Bawumia called for sincere collaboration between all parties in the conflict to ensure long-lasting peace.

“If there's going to be peace, which is so necessary for the development of this country, it is going to be peace amongst the Konkombas and the Chokosis.

....And I know that when the Paramount Chief of Saboba speaks, the Konkombas listen.

“What we need to focus on, is not to take the peace for granted. We are working on the peace. I really appreciate the effort by the Paramount Chief here to also meet the Regent in Chereponi for them to work out this peace together. That is what really makes it lasting; that the two people should sit down together," he added.