Nkonya reaffirms commitment to peace process

Nkonya-Tayi, (V/R) July 6, GNA-The Chiefs and people of the Nkonya traditional area on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to processes aimed at restoring peace between them and their neighbours at Alavanyo. This was at a meeting between them and the peace Mediation and Consultative Committees to reach an understanding on the assistance required by them to embark on the demarcation of their boundary on the disputed land.

The people of Alavanyo have already done so.

The two communities have been locked in a protracted land dispute for over 80 years, often degenerating into bloody clashes until 2004 when a peace initiative by the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council led to the formation of a Mediation Committee to try to find a formula for permanent peace between them.

Social interactions have since been restored between the two communities as other peace processes continued. The impression from the Nkonya side after several hours of frank discussions was that the social interactions between it and their neighbours at Alavanyo had been beneficial and provided the impetus to overcome any challenges towards the permanent resolution of the problem. Their major requests were that there should be observers to monitor the demarcation of their boundary; that their security would be assured and that a surveyor be provided to guide them during their demarcation. The Right Reverend Dr, Livingstone Buamah, Moderator of the E.P. Church and Chairman of the Mediation Committee said the success of the peace process lay with the two communities and that the Committee was only acting like "a midwife to help deliver the baby".

"The destiny of the peace process depends on you", he said and that the whole world was waiting to see the fruition of the novelty peace processes embarked upon by the two communities who are the strategic allies in the peace process.

Rt. Rev. Dr Buama said any mistakes during the course of the process would provide lessons for fine-tuning subsequent steps towards the ultimate goal.

Right Reverend Francis Lodonu, Bishop of Ho Diocese of the Catholic Church and Vice-Chairman of the Mediation Committee called for sincerity towards the observance of the terms agreed upon by the two communities and the Mediation and Consultative Committees to guide the peace process.

Mrs Felicia Okyere-Darko, Chief State Attorney and member of the Mediation Committee urged women of Nkonya to be actively involved in the peace process and influence its positive outcome. She said it was only in an atmosphere of peace that they and their children would feel secure and embark on productive activities. Mrs Okyere-Darko said resources spent on land litigation and conflicts should rather be channelled into the education of their children.

The terms and conditions fashioned out by representatives of the two communities at a workshop in Ho to guide the demarcation of their respective boundaries were that, each side would be given about ten days to two weeks separately to demarcate its boundary with the other during which period nobody from the other side would enter the area where the demarcation was being done.

There would be no interference from either side no matter where the neighbour would indicate as its boundary.

There would be observers from the Consultative and Mediation Committees and the rival community when the other embarked on its demarcation. The demarcation teams will not be allowed to harvest foodstuffs while carrying out the demarcation and would have to exercise care not to destroy food crops and farms.

Other conditions were that either side would have to inform its neighbours about the demarcation exercise. Each side would perform some customary rites before the commencement of the demarcation.