PRESS RELEASE BY THE GBI STATE

1st: AS A REACTION TO A PUPLICATION IN THE 28TH JUNE 2012 EDITION OF THE PUNCH NEWS PAPER 2nd: IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE HOHOE RIOT OF 11TH JUNE 2012

Mr. Chairman, Togbewo, Mamawo, members of the press, the good people of Gbi, ladies and gentlemen, it has become very necessary for the Gbi people to release this statements as a reaction to what was published in the punch news paper and also set the records straight about the current situation in Hohoe.

As background information, it would be recalled that the Hohoe Zongo Community went on a rampage on Monday the 11th of June 2012 and vandalized several properties in the Hohoe Township including the official residence of Togbega Gabusu VI and the palace of the Gbi Traditional Council and other properties of the Gbi State. In that shameful act by the Zongo community, Gbi Stool regalia and relics and other priceless assets of the Gbi State were either burnt or stolen by the marauding Zongo community. Unfortunately, the security agencies could not contain the situation.

It would be recalled again that on Wednesday, 6th June 2012, prior to the fateful Monday of 11th June 2012, some Zongo youth vandalized properties at the Hohoe Municipal Hospital and assaulted some of the staff of the hospital in relation to the death of a Zongo youth. The damage and related assault was reported to both the police and Togbega Gabusu VI. Togbega Gabusu VI intervened and it was mutually agreed that the Zongo Community would apologise to the hospital staff and repair the damaged properties.

In defiance of the mutually agreed position mentioned above, the Zongo Community went ahead on Sunday, 10th June 2012 and buried their Imam on Gbi land. The next morning the body of the Imam was found lying by aroadside.

On the wings of this development, the Zongo community on Monday, 11th June 2012 went on the rampage, vandalizing property and terrorizing any person they chanced upon.

This was followed by visits by numerous groups/personalities including but not limited to the Vice President, National Chief Imam, Traditional Leaders, Religious Groups and the Peace Council to restore peace and order in Hohoe.

On the 24thJune 2012, the National Security Coordinator also visited the Gbi State. At the meeting with the Chiefs and the Committee set up by the Gbi State he insisted that there should be no press/media person, since this was a brother-to-brother meeting to discuss the way forward for a peaceful resolution of the Hohoe impasse occasioned by the Zongo riot of 11th June 2012. To the surprise and dismay of the Gbi State, it is alleged that the National Security Coordinator went ahead to cause a publication in the New Punch Newspaper the subject matter of their “closed door” discussion. In that publication he revisited the long buried historical issue that occurred between the people of Gbi and the people of Likpe when he had earlier on impressed upon our Chiefs not to refer to earlier dastardly acts perpetrated against the people of Gbi by the Zongo community.

This, we find to be very unfortunate and untowardly on the part of the National Security Coordinator as we the people of Gbi are AT A LOSS as to the linkage between the current Hohoe and the Zongo issue on the one hand, and the Hohoe and Likpe issue on the other hand.

We can recall the various machinations and manipulations of State machinery put in place by some people from Likpe, including the current National Security Coordinator, to intimidate the Gbis. For example:

It will be recalled that, during the Supreme Military Council eras, the late General Utuka tried to use state Machinery to intimidate the people of Gbi on several occasions but failed.

As if that was not enough, Dr. ObedAsamoah also during the PNDC and NDC-1 eras, resorted to the use of State machinery to revisit the Gbi – Likpe issue to intimidate the people of Gbi but also failed.

Subsequent to his earlier visit, the National Security Coordinator is using methods that we the people of Gbi deem to be inimical to the peace that all well meaning Ghanaians cherish and seek in the resolution of the current situation in Hohoe. For example, the National Security Coordinator in a meeting with the Chiefs of Gbi used coercive strategies like the imposition of curfew, the deployment and ordering of soldiers to shoot on sight the citizens of Gbi.

The National Security Coordinator also publicly stated and has hitherto refused to either recognize or have anything to do with the committee set up by the Gbi State and endorsed by the Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area (Togbega Gabusu VI) to spear head the process toward a peaceful resolution of the current impasse knowing well that he, the National Security Coordinator, cannot under any circumstance intimidate the members of the said committee. Please find below, members of the committee:

Working Committee Technical Committee

Mr. Divine Morny

Mr. Thomas AmewuDuglu

Ing. Y.M. Adjah

Distinguished Professor Justice A.K.P. Kludze

Mr. SylvanusAdzimah

Justice F.Y. Kpegah

Asafoatsega of Gbi

Dr. A.F. Gockel

Mr. Emil Mawusi

TogbeOsei III

Ms. Ruth Yeboah

TogbeAyim IV (Lawyer)

Mr. Oscar Vulor (Lawyer)

TogbeDokpo III

Mr. Amu Seth

Dr.T.K. Adiku

Mr. AtsuDzatse

Mr. Ken Ayim

Mr. Newton Darkey

Mr. Chairman, Togbewo, Mamawo, members of the press, the good people of Gbi, ladies and gentlemen,

We want to bring to the notice of the Government of Ghana and all well-meaning Ghanaians that we the people of Gbi are peace-loving people and we want lasting peace in our land. The manipulative strategies some government officials are using in the resolution of the current situation in Hohoe are not only unprofessional but alsoappalling.We the people of Gbi will not allow any person or group of persons to draw other ethnic groups into the current Hohoe issue or use it to solve any hidden agenda, except the agenda of Lasting Peace. The people of Gbi and her neighbours have always been living peacefully together.

Mr. Chairman, Togbewo, Mamawo, members of the press, the good people of Gbi, ladies and gentlemen,

In the light of recent developments in Hohoe in respect of the Zongo Riots of 6th, 0th, and 11th July 2012, the Highest Decision Making Body of the Gbi State has mandated Togbe Worde IV, Divisional Chief of GbiKpeme, at their meeting of 16th July 2012, to act on behalf of the Gbi State with immediate effect.

Subsequently, all communications in respect of the Gbi State should be channeled through Togbe Worde IV, Divisional Chief of Kpeme. In the light of this, it is not sufficient for anyone or group to see any individual in Gbi per se and presume that peace will be attained.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion we want to inform the President of the Republic of Ghana and the good people of this country that:

1. We the people of Gbi cannot sit down and watch the MUSEC and the security apparatus deployed to protect the Zongo community as if we the people of Gbi are secondary citizens of the Republic of Ghana.
2. In the current situation, we the people of Gbi are the disadvantaged, not the Zongo community that carried out the riot. Our Paramountcy has been attacked, our innocent children have been killed and/or maimed, and properties vandalized.
3. All communications in respect of the Gbi State should be channeled through Togbe Worde IV, the Divisional Chief of Gbi Kpeme, in line with the directives of the Highest Decision Making Body of the Gbi State.
4. We, the people of Gbi, will give our total support to the Government in our quest for a lasting peace so long as the mediators and emissaries do not have any hidden agenda and/or undermine our Stool, Chiefs, Customs and Traditions.
   Signed By: Togbe Worde IV Divisional Chief of GbiKpeme For and on Behalf o fGbi State