EDITORIAL: Give Peace A Chance In Hohoe

Last Sunday, the Zongo community in the Hohoe municipality rendered an unqualified apology to the Gbi Traditional Council for the disturbances and damage that rocked the commercial town of Hohoe on June 11, this year.

Since the disturbances, the once active commercial town has become a ghost community, with many people still fearing for their lives.

Even before last Sunday’s meeting, the Zongo community had complained about untold hardships on them as a result of the challenges facing them and had sought the intervention of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs to find an amicable solution to the bad blood between them and the indigenes.

Without taking sides on this issue, we wish to state that there must be an end to every conflict for development to take place. Development cannot take place in the midst of conflict and insecurity.

The Zongo community did not just spring up from the vacuum. For well over three generations, the indigenes and the Muslims have co-existed peacefully until the recent disturbances.

We also acknowledge that apart from the loss of lives, properties were destroyed, while a number of people have also been displaced. Frankly, those who may have lost dear ones and properties will feel greatly pained.

That is why we empathise with the Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area, Togbega Gabusu VI, not only for the destruction of his palace but also his near escape and personal humiliation.

The Daily Graphic, however, believes that there should be an end to all the suspicion, especially after the Muslim community had rendered an apology. But, as should be expected, the indigenes feel betrayed by the actions of their neighbours in the Zongo

community and it will take time for the wounds of pain and agony to be healed.

We urge the two communities to learn to forgive and allow normal relations to be restored. That will require the opening of shops owned by people in the Zongo community and allowing those in the transport business to operate without fear or favour.

While it is about time to allow businesses to resume operations, the Daily Graphic appeals to the leadership of the Gbi Traditional Council and the Zongo community to continue to dialogue to find lasting solutions to existing differences.

And since progress and prosperity cannot flourish in an atmosphere of mistrust and instability, the parties in dispute should give peace a chance.

It is also important to end this suspicion now, so that those who profit from conflict do not take advantage of the situation to promote their unpatriotic agenda.