Inaugurate c'ttee of inquiry into Tongo-Beo disturbances - Tia

Tongo-Beo (U/E), Feb. 10, GNA - The Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Talensi Constituency, Mr John Tia has called on the newly appointed Minister for Upper East, Mr Boniface Gambila to inaugurate without further delay the five-member committee set up by his predecessor Mr Mahami Salifu to look into the recent disturbances in the Tongo-Beo area of the Region. Mr Tia said an early investigation and resolution of the matter was more than crucial because any procrastination might aggravate the security situation and thus truncate further the peace and tranquillity that had existed in Tongo-Beo.

The Member of Parliament, who was speaking to GNA at Tongo-Beo after he had visited some of the victims of disturbances, appealed to the Government, the Diplomatic Community, nongovernmental organisations and the general public to go to the aid of those who suffered severe damages and losses during the disturbances either in cash or kind. He said more than 100 people had been displaced after their houses and personal effects including foodstuff were burnt adding that security personnel deployed to the area lacked logistics.

Mr Tia said every means necessary must be employed in creating an enabling environment for all Ghanaians including the people of Tongo-Beo to perpetually live in harmony with one another. The Minority Chief Whip interacted with the Tongo-Rana Kwadan Tii, Paramount Chief Talensi Traditional Area; Chief and people of Tongo-Beo; Talensi Rock Union (Talensi Youth Association); Officials of the Talensi/Nabdam District Assembly and the Bolgatanga Divisional Police Command and urged all parties to the disturbance to exercise restraint and allow the committee when inaugurated to carry out its mandate to find a lasting solution to the problem.

Fighting broke out between some sections of Tongo-Beo community on January 23 2005 during which two people were injured and a number of houses were burnt. A large number of people that were displaced are staying with relatives.

GNA