The traditional leaders and community representatives from Adele, Akyode, and Challa ethnic groups have stated their commitment to ensure lasting peace returns to Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region.
The leaders made the pledge after a two-day dialogue facilitated by the National Peace Council at Nkwanta with the traditional leaders signing onto a 13-point declaration to end the conflict and to ensure peaceful coexistence.
Pledge for Peace
Representatives of each traditional area, including Nana Boafo Amoah IV, for the Adele Traditional Council, Nana Obombo Lupowura Serwura II, Paramount Chief of the Akyode
The leaders including their respective Queen mothers and the youth representatives pledged to collaborate to address outstanding issues through inclusive and non-violent approach to renew peacebuilding processes in Nkwanta.
Appeal by National Peace Council
The Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Peace Council, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, in a remark commended the traditional leaders for their commitment to work towards peace in Nkwanta.
He lauded their readiness to sign the peace declaration, urging them to nurture, sustain and develop the commitments they made.
Touching on the essence of peace, Bishop Fianu stated that peace and development could only be realised and maintained in an environment built on trust, forgiveness, fairness, tolerance, compromise, cooperation, and the non-violent resolution of differences.
He equally entreated the media to be circumspect in their reportage and to help sustain and amplify the agreement rather than inflame tensions.
The Peace Dialogue
The Nkwanta Peace Dialogue was convened to address ongoing tensions and conflicts within the Nkwanta area, promote reconciliation among stakeholders, and to develop sustainable pathways to long-term peace. The session, aimed at creating neutral platforms and developing actionable recommendations for peaceful coexistence, brought together traditional leaders, security personnel, the media and Official from the National Peace Council.
Participants in the dialogue acknowledged the misery, pain, insecurity, and disruption caused by the protracted conflict, which has largely stemmed from disputes over land and chieftaincy in Nkwanta.
They reflected on the escalation of hostilities that re-emerged in November 2021 and the severe toll the situation had taken on lives, property, livelihoods, and social cohesion.
The traditional leaders from the three groups expressed deep concern about rumours, mistrust, and fear that had strained relationships, weakened community bonds, and increased the economic and social costs of the conflict.
Key Reaccommodation
Among key agreements reached at the dialogue include the following: that the peaceful coexistence of the three ethnic groups is paramount.
The illegal importation of firearms into the Nkwanta Municipality must cease immediately.
There must be a cessation of all armed violence by the three main feuding parties, Adele, Akyode, and Challa, and allied groups, with a commitment to non-violent methods of conflict resolution.
All ethnic groups within the Nkwanta South municipality must accord security agencies’ respect and avoid interfering in the discharge of their lawful duties.
Security agencies must investigate and conclude all reported cases of violence involving all parties, including Adele, Akyode, Challa, and any other residents within the municipality.
All citizens of Nkwanta are to cease sharing rumours and misinformation through social media and all other channels that undermine peace.
The leadership of Adele, Akyode, and Challa, and allied groups, must immediately call on their people particularly the youth to cease violent and armed attacks regardless of provocation and to engage with the joint implementation and monitoring committee to be established.
All parties must show utmost respect for each other’s rights and dignity while continuing engagements to resolve the dispute.
As part of the roadmap to peace, three ethnic groups agreed to set-up a joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee to ensure the realisation of the commitments outlined in the peace declaration document.
