MPs appeal to chiefs

Accra, Feb. 1, GNA- Members of Parliament (MPs) on Wednesday appealed to chiefs to consider the interests of the people first and to desist from fanning conflicts in their traditional areas. They said most of the conflicts in the country could be traced to chieftaincy and lands disputes, and urged traditional rulers to take the lead in preserving the peace in the country.

The MPs were contributing to a statement made by Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, NDC-Ho East, on the current peace initiative between the people of Alavanyo and Nkonya in the Volta region. Mr Stephen Balado-Manu, NPP-Ahafo Ano South, urged chiefs not to sacrifice the peace in their traditional areas for their own selfish gains.

Mr Isaac Asiamah, NPP-Atwima Mponua, said it was wrong for those in leadership positions including politicians to use the youth as instruments of violence and to fan conflicts in the country. He said such leaders should be prepared to reap what they were sowing to day in the future.

Mr Emmanuel Bandua, NDC-Biakoye, noted that the peace process by the people of Alavanyo and Nkonya areas was on going, and appealed to government and other important bodies to help provide the needed resources to secure absolute peace in the area. Earlier, Mrs Azumah-Mensah called on government and agencies to help restore economic and social activities in the two traditional areas.

She congratulated the youth of the two areas for working tirelessly to bring lasting peace to the area. "Mr Speaker, I also wish to say that the efforts of the youths of Alavanyo and Nkonya must be an eye opener for all youths in other trouble spots across the country as our meagre and dwindling resources can no longer go into conflict resolution." "After over 80 years of bloodshed, fear, pain and agony of the loss of lives, peace has finally prevailed between the two traumatised neighbours of Alavanyo and Nkonya."

She appealed to all politicians to use their positions to help strengthen the peace process initiated by the youth.