Togbe Afede calls for moderation

Togbe Afede XIV, President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, has pleaded with the chiefs of Gbi Traditional Area to reconsider the Friday ultimatum to the Zongo Community to produce stool regalia stolen from the palace of Togbega Gabusu VI

Togbe Afede, who pledged to facilitate its find, said the Friday ultimatum might be too short for the Zongo Community to produce the items and that the House would collaborate with the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) to trace the regalia.

The Gbi Chiefs through Togbe Keh XII, Left Wing Chief of the Traditional Area, on Wednesday issued the ultimatum saying failing to return the items on the given date, could have consequences.

But Togbe Afede said the situation was so volatile and that nothing should be done for it to escalate.

Zongo Community youths on Monday morning rampaged through the residence of Togbega Gabusu destroying and torching property in reprisal for the exhumation of the body of the Chief Iman of Hohoe, supposedly on the orders of Togbe Gabusu.

Counter reprisals by the Gbis had made Hohoe unsafe forcing government to impose a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the area.

Togbe Afede appealed to all sides to remain calm as the Standing Committee of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs to help facilitate the peace in the area and expressed his sympathy to the chiefs and people of Gbi for their human and material losses.

Togbe Adzima V, Chief of Gbi-Abansi, who briefed Togbe Afede and his team, said the Zongo youths had consistently acted with hostility and impunity towards the traditional authorities over the years.

Mr. John Kudalor, Director of General Operations of the Police Service was also in the Hohoe Municipality.

He interacted with the Chiefs and elders of the Gbi traditional area, met the security and visited the Hospital.**