Alavanyo/Nkonya, (V/R), Feb. 17, GNA-The Chiefs and people of Alavanyo and Nkonya on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to the terms and conditions they have jointly worked out for demarcating their boundaries with each other- a critical step in their peace process.
The two neighbours have been battling each other in a bloody land dispute for over 80 years until 2004 when a peace initiative by the Regional Co-ordinating Council led to the formation of a Mediation Committee under the Chairmanship of Right Reverend Dr Livingstone Buama, Moderator of the E.P. Church and Right Reverend Francis Lodonu, Bishop of Ho Diocese of the Catholic Church as vice-Chairman, to assist the feuding communities to make peace with each other.
Other members of the Committee are Rt. Rev. Gabriel Mantey Catholic Bishop of Jasikan Diocese, Mama Adokua Asigble, Queenmother of Tefle, Mrs Hillary Gbedemah, a Legal Practitioner, Nana Besemunah III, Krachiwura, Mrs Felicia Okyere- Darko Chief State Attorney and Mr Evans Kanfra of the Regional Co-ordinating Council as Secretary. As part of the peace initiative, a Consultative Committee made up of representatives of the two traditional areas was formed to promote confidence building between them and promote social interaction with significant success.
Nana Okotor Kofi XII Omanhene of Nkonya his elders, the youth on one hand and Togbe Tsedze Atakora II Fiaga of Alavanyo, elders and the youth on the other were unequivocal in assuring the Mediation and Consultative Committees of their acceptance of the terms and conditions under which each of them would demarcate what they considered to be their boundaries.
Mr William Kpende from Alavanyo and Nana Kofi Kodua II, Adontehene of Nkonya-Wurupong, Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively of the Consultative Committee reminded the two communities of the terms and conditions which they themselves had fashioned out at a workshop in Ho to guide the demarcation of their respective boundaries. These were that, each side would be given about ten days to two weeks separately to demarcate its boundary with the other during which period nobody from the other side would enter the area where the demarcation was being done.
There would be no interference from either side no matter where the neighbour would indicate as its boundary.
When it gets to the turn of the other side to demarcate its boundary, there would be observers from its neighbour, the Consultative Committee of the local people and the Mediation Committee.
The demarcation teams will not be allowed to harves t foodstuffs, while carrying out the demarcation and would have to exercise care not to destroy food crops and farms.
Other conditions were that either side would have to inform other communities with which they shared boundaries about what they intended to do.
It was agreed that Alavanyo would be given the chance to do its demarcation first to be followed by Nkonya.
The Mediation Committee appointed Surveyor would then survey and draw the map of what each side would be indicated as its boundary and present it in a sealed envelop to the Mediation Committee for discussion before being presented to the two communities for discussion and final decision.
Addressing the separate meetings, Rt. Rev. Dr Buama impressed on the two neighbours that they have gotten to a crucial stage of their peace initiative where they would have to take their own destiny into their hands.
He said already their peace initiative and success so far has become a reference point in the country, which was keenly watching every step they took with interest.
Rt. Rev. Buama said, "you are close to the promise land and the air of that land is blowing at you but you have to take the last crucial step to get there".
He said now was the time that they have to be extra alert against those who would seek to draw them back by open hostility of by subtle means. "What happened in the past must be consigned to the past, you must look ahead with optimism and resolve to succeed", he exhorted. Rt. Rev. Dr. Buama exhorted Churches in the two communities to fast and pray during the period of final preparations for the demarcations to begin.
Mama Asigble impressed on the two traditional areas that their initiative was what encouraged the people of Tefle to bury the hatchet in their land and chieftaincy disputes and hoped they would not falter. Mrs Gbedemah impressed on the two neighbours that the path they have chosen to settle their differences was the best way of maintaining good neighbourliness and not adversarial litigation in Court or through armed clashes.
