FEUDING FACTIONS AT WEIJA SMOKE PEACE PIPE (PAGE 18, JUNE 19, 2010)

In its quest to promote peace and stability, the Ga South Municipal Assembly has organised a day’s workshop for the youth and traditional leaders in the community.
The workshop, which was on the theme: The youth as ambassadors of peace and development”, is to help members deliberate on issues that would promote development and progress within the assembly.
At the workshop, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Sheriff Nii Dodoo, said the workshop was aimed at healing the rift among the members of the community to ensure peace and stability in the various communities within the assembly.
He said “the workshop hoped to create a suitable environment in which human aims and aspirations can be pursued legitimately and constructively”.
The assembly has been faced with the challenge of resolving the conflict that led to the killing of one person and injured many during the celebration of the 2008 Homowo festival.
The conflict was as a result of chieftancy dispute between the Asharley Blafo and the Atonyame familities of Weija.
Mr Dodoo said the event would provide the opportunity for all to deliberate on issues and collectively work towards the creation of a peaceful and stable environment.
The workshop also brought together the two families for the first time.
“I am full of hope that this event will be of immense benefit to all participants and will help sow the seeds of unity and brotherhood which we all seek for the people”.
Weija, Oblogo, Oshieyie, Tuba, Anyaa and recently, Dankyira are some of the communities affected by the conflict which led to the destruction of properties.
In an interview, the Accra West Divisional Police Commander who is stationed at Kaneshie, Chief Superintendent Michael Kportufe Avadetsi, said for peace to prevail among the two families, there was the need for both families to exercise tolerance and discipline.
He said the issue was in court and was of the hope that justice would be delivered for peace to prevail in the community, “since the issue of seeking justice and peace are the major cause of the instability in the area”.
He said the police would be working together with the municipal security committee to maintain peace before and after this year’s Homowo celebrations.
Supt Avadetsi said the police had put measures in place to intensify patrols in the conflict-prone areas to maintain peace and stability during the festival.