All Is Not Well

The news that the police have found 25,000 rounds of ammunition concealed in coffins being sent to the Nanumba District of the Northern Region indicates that all is not well.

It signals that the Nanumba/Kokomba feud is simmering.

It is sad that some people think that they should go to war, even when they are living in deprived conditions which cry for development projects.

In recent times, there have been a number of protracted conflicts between neighbouring communities which have been at each other's throat.

Fortunately, some of these conflicts have been amicably resolved through dialogue. This happened after numerous futile wars which did not benefit either of the parties.

The war-weary Nkonya and Alavanyo communities listened to the appeals made by eminent citizens of the country, including the Moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Reverend Livingstone Buamah, and buried the hatchet.

It had been our hope that people in areas where there seems to be latent conflict would learn from such useful and encouraging achievements.

It might be necessary for all feuding communities to consider whether there couldn't be a better way of resolving their differences than going to war.

From all indications, some people who are beating the war drums are behind the transportation of the ammunition from Accra.

Obviously, when war breaks out now those beating the drums will not be at the forefront; instead, they will push the energetic youth to the slaughterhouse of war.

It is our hope that youths from the different ethnic groups in the Nanumba District will be able to say that they will not allow themselves to be used by the war-mongers.

They should carefully reflect on the consequences of war on the development of the district and resist any attempt to use them as tools for the self-seekers to achieve their aim.

Nobody disputes that the Northern Region is one the four most deprived regions in the country and the government is making every effort to rectify the situation.

If the government would be compelled to spend money meant for development projects such as schools and health service on security men to maintain law and order in the area, then development would be stalled.

We do not think that that is the wish of the people of the area. One way of bringing development to a community is to ensure that as many children as possible are provided with quality education to help them to chart their future course, not the provision of ammunition for war.

We hope that the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) will liaise with non-governmental organisations engaged in conflict resolution to intensify educational campaigns to educate the people in the trouble spots on the repercussions of their actions or inaction.

It is our desire that any investigation into the matter would trace the source of the ammunition and the culprits dealt with appropriately.