Alavanyo/Nkonya Conflict; third mediation attempts begin

Efforts to broker lasting peace between the people of Alavanyo and Nkonya traditional areas has been reactivated by the Vice President, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur on Friday at a meeting held at Kpando with leaders of both communities and witnessed by the Paramount Chief of Akpini (Kpando) traditional area Togbe Dagadu VIII.

The meeting is the third attempt by government to broker peace between the two disputing communities in the decades old conflict over a disputed land.

In December last year, there were renewed clashes following gunshots that left one person dead. The violence in the two communities has persisted for years despite several mediation attempts.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur, who expressed unhappiness over the protracted conflict, warned the feuding factions that government will no longer tolerate the continuous violence being perpetrated in the area.

He said the cycle of retaliation must end, as it was affecting the local economy of the area since, whiles the cost of the conflict is also getting higher since government has to spend lots of money in maintaining the police and the military there for peacekeeping.

“Our generation must decide that these things must come to an end. Our generation must secure the future.”

Confiscate Disputed Nkonya-Alavanyo Land - Police Commander

DCOP Peterkin Yentumi Gyinae

In an attempt to end the protracted land dispute characterized by sporadic shootings and attacks between the people of Nkonya and Alavanyo in the Volta Region, the Volta Regional Police Commander has recommended the confiscation of the said land by government.

According to the Deputy Commander of Police, DCOP Peterkin Yentumi Gyinae in order for the Police and other Security agencies to fully prevent shootings and attacks “government needs to confiscate the land and turn it into a Police or Military camp;” thus a jungle training facility for the security forces.

He believes that when this is done it will make it difficult if not entirely stop assailants from hiding in the bushes to shoot, maim and murder people in cold blood as is currently the case. DCOP Gyinae made the recommendation in an interview with Daily Guide in Volta region’s Capital, Ho.

The move will also thwart the claims by residents that the combined Police and Security personnel were doing little to prevent the sporadic attacks and counter attacks and for that matter unable to secure their lives.

The Regional Commander noted that it was not prudent for security officers to secure the bushes and leave residents in the towns, because the assailants could also take advantage of that to attack in the communities. He also explained that the negligence of residents to clear bushes close to their homes also created a congenial habitat for assailants to attack.

Nkonya Youth Call For Investigation of REGSEC

Cosmos Sarpong, Spokes Person

Residents of Nkonya led by the youth of the area has carried out their promise to hold a news conference as an alternative move to a demonstration which was stopped a fortnight ago by Police and Military in the area.

The Nkonya people represent a faction in dispute with Alavanyo over a piece of land for the past 90 years. Their press conference which could be likened to mini-demonstration was attended by over 600 residents who converged at Nkonya Nchumuru for the petition to be read.

The residents represented under a group called; Coalition of Orphans, Widows and Victims of Nkonya-Alavanyo Conflict, in their petition appealed to the President to institute an investigation into the activities of the Volta Regional Security Council (REGSEC) in relation to protracted communal conflict and the peace process.

Reading the petition, the spokesperson, Cosmos Sarpong claimed that the REGSEC since September 2013 was thwarting efforts by an NGO; Youth for Peace and Security Africa, YPS-AFRICA which started a peace building process among the people of both Nkonya and Alavanyo.

Alavanyo chiefs invoke deity after Soldier Assailants

Traditional leaders at Alavanyo in Hohoe Municipality are said to have invoked the wrath of the gods on the unknown assailants who opened fire on a military man who was on peace keeping in the area on Thursday afternoon.

The assailants were said to have escaped into a nearby bush after they shot Lance Coporal William Bedford who have gone to the bush to urinate.

According to the chiefs the rituals which was performed at the scene of the attack, will compel the assailants to own up or the wrath of the gods will be visited on them and their families.

Lance Coporal Bedford is part of a team of security personnel deployed in the area to maintain peace following sporadic communal clashes between the people of Alavanyo and Nkonya.

Though, the motive behind the attack is not yet known, Police sources said the incident has no link with the age old communal conflict but believe it may be a case of settling "personal scores".