Japanese Delegation Understudies Peace Building Process In Volta Region

A FIVE-member delegation from Japan has visited the Volta Region to understudy the peace building process between the people of Alavanyo in the Hohoe District and Nkonya in the Jasikan District.

The delegation, which included a television crew, was led by Akinori Suzuki and was in the region for three days.

During the period, members of the delegation interacted with the two communities, who for over 84 years had disputed over a parcel of land.

The Alavanyo and Nkonya conflict peace building process has taken an international dimension.

Last year, a United Nation Peace Building delegation was in the region to interact with the Mediation and Consultative Committee and the Ho Catholic Diocesan Peace Building Team on the process which was yielding fruitful results by bringing the conflict between the two communities to an end.

The Executive Director of the West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP), Emmanuel Bombande, said after attending a global conference held in Japan recently on 'resolving conflicts within communities', it attracted the Japanese delegation to understudy the process of resolving conflicts in the two communities.

Addressing the stakeholders in the conflict resolution, Mr Bombande noted that there was the need to enhance the capacity of all stakeholders in the process of facilitation and dialogue in the mediation process to ensure a successful conflict resolution and reconciliation.

There is need for the leadership of the two communities to pledge their commitment to become peace builders through their disposition to talk peace and unity rather than inflaming passions during challenges, he said.

'We must all ensure that the land in dispute should no longer be in contention between the two communities so that we can develop a temperate atmosphere for mediation and dialogue through bold steps,' he stressed.

Most Rev. Francis Kofi Lodonu, Catholic Bishop of Ho Diocese and Vice Chairman of the Mediation Committee, called for mutual intervention and co-operation to resolve the conflict amicably since it had taken on an international dimension.

Mr Suzuki expressed the delegation’s appreciation for the hard work in resolving the long-standing conflict which had attracted the international community to understudy the process of mediation and peace building.