The President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, has announced that the House would henceforth impose sanctions on the two paramount chiefs of Nkonya and Alavanyo, Nana Okotor Kofi and Togbe Atakora Tsedze, if further violence continues in the area.
He explained that part of the sanction would include the exclusion of the two chiefs from the deliberations of the House, until they make conscious efforts at ensuring lasting peace in the area, which he stressed was a prerequisite for the development of the area and the region.
Addressing the first emergency meeting of the House in Ho, Togbe Afede made it clear that the Nkonya-Alavanyo conflict was not only retarding development in that part of the region, but also a total embarrassment to the chiefs and people of the region.
Togbe Afede, who is also the Paramount Chief of the Asogli traditional area stressed that the House was not against the two members of the House, but rather would support them in their efforts to bring peace to the area, noting that it was vital for the two paramount chiefs to commit themselves to the peace process.
The President of the House said the two chiefs would be held responsible for any further violent activities in the area, noting that it was time for the chiefs in the conflict area to distance themselves from the conflict by exposing those involved to the law enforcement authorities.
http://thechronicle.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Togbe-Afede-XIV.jpg Togbe Afede said the House would support government in any step that it would take to bring lasting peace between the chiefs and people of Alavanyo and Nkonya, because it was only through peace that any form of development could be achieved in the conflict area and the region in general.
The Vice President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs, Nana Soglo Allo observed that the conflict between the two traditional areas started decades ago and suggested that government should compulsorily acquire the land in dispute in order to put an end to the conflict.
The two paramount chiefs of Nkonya and Alavanyo, Nana Okotor Kofi and Togbe Atakora Tsedze pledged before the House to help ensure that peace returned to the conflict area, however, the Paramount Chief of Alavanyo urged those helping to bring peace to the area to do so with an open mind without prejudice.
The Paramount Chief of Nkonya, Nana Okotor Kofi pointed out that the conflict was still there because young men from both sides were not prepared to listen to the advice of the elderly, and urged the Volta Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo to visit the area and advise the youth on the need to live in peace with one another.
The Volta Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo said he and his Deputy, Mr. Francis Ganyaglo, were in the House to introduce themselves to the chiefs as well as to seek the support and cooperation of the chiefs to ensure rapid development of the region.
The Regional Minister called for effective collaboration between the chiefs and the Volta Region Coordinating Council (VRCC) and reaffirmed his commitment and that of his deputy to work hard for the development of the region and appealed to the chiefs to correct them whenever they go wrong.
The Volta Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr. Alex Bedie disclosed that five people lost their lives in the recent conflict between Nkonya and Alavanyo, whilst three persons suffered from various degrees of gun wounds.