Fishermen's groups clash

Ho (Volta Region) 14 July 2003 – About 500 people have sought refuge in the bush, while 90 houses have been burnt down in an attack by Nchumurus on the Ewe community of Dindor-Chinderi, a fishing village in the northern part of the Volta Region.

The attack, which took place on Friday, was said to have resulted from the Nchumurus’ disagreement with the method used by the Ewe settler fishermen to catch bigger fishes. The Police, deployed to the area to ensure law and order arrested thirteen of the attackers.

When contacted, Dr K. K. Manfo, Commissioner of Police, Operations, confirmed the incident to the “Times” and said that the police, backed by a military detachment, was undertaking patrols in the area.

The “Times” has learnt that the unorthodox fishing method called “Kponka” is allegedly used to prevent bigger fishes from moving up stream to the northern part where the Nchumurus, the original owners of the land are based. Consequently, only the Ewe settler fishermen get the bigger fishes.

The Nchumurus, who had for sometime been expressing their disapproval of the method, which they claimed caused them to have poor catches, therefore, launched the attack to vent their spleen on the “offenders”.

For fear of their lives, the Ewe fishermen fled into the bush while their houses and fishing equipment were destroyed. Meanwhile, the police have appealed to the communities to exercise restraint and use legitimate means to resolve the misunderstanding.