Mahama calls for peace in conflict areas

President John Mahama has called on all, especially those in conflict areas, to give peace a chance and promote dialogue to resolve any misunderstanding.

He pointed out that “without peace and unity, there cannot be progress and development, and dialogue is the best option for the resolution of our differences.'

He said, “we have no other choice but to live together peacefully and co-exist with our neighbours, to be able to pursue the task of development.”

President Mahama made the call in a speech read on his behalf by Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, at Saboba on Monday, during the final funeral rites of Uchabor-bor Bowan Kwadin Sakojim the third, late Paramount Chief of Saboba Traditional Area.

Alhaji Dauda led a government delegation to the funeral, which comprised Alhaji Limuna Mohammed Muniru, Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Moses Bukari Mabengba, Ambassador-Designate for Angola, District Chief Executives for Gushegu, Karaga, Saboba, Yendi, Chereponi, Zabzugu, Mamprugu Mocdori, and some Northern Regional Executives of the National Democratic Congress.

The late paramount chief who was born in 1916, died in 2007 after ascending the throne in 1989.

He was an industrious farmer and a peace advocate who helped in calming the 1994 conflict at Saboba by providing a safe haven for non-Konkombas.

President Mahama urged that “the performance of the final funeral rites of our late chief should serve to promote peace and unity in this area, and also for the resolution of all differences amicably,” adding that this would be the greatest tribute to the memory of the late chief.

President Mahama personally donated GHc5,000 towards the performance of the funeral rites while the government delegation also donated GHc5,500, including bags of rice and a quantity of assorted drinks.

Alhaji Muniru appealed to King-makers in the Saboba Traditional Area to follow the right procedures and select the rightful heir to succeed the late chief to ensure peace in the area.

He noted that conflicts in the region were always traced to chieftaincy and land disputes, and urged the youth in the area to choose the path of peace.

Uchobob-bor, John Bowan Mateer, Regent of Saboba, extolled the virtues of the late chief, describing him as a peace-maker and development-oriented, who helped to bring a lot of development initiatives to the area.