Chiefs of Kpando Anyigbe smoke the peace pipe after more than 32 years of dispute

After over 32 years of a protracted chieftaincy dispute that has so deeply affected stability and development of Kpando, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Finally, the people of Anyigbe a major part in the Kpando chieftaincy puzzle have buried the hatchet and all the 3 chiefs have come together and ate from the same bowl.

The Kpando situation was getting out of hand after several attempts by various committees and interested parties to resolve the dispute could not see the light of day, MP of Kpando Hon. Della Sowah after a failed attempt in 2015, on December 24, 2016, wrote to the president of the Akpini traditional council Togbe Osei Tutu Brempong III (Paramount chief of Wusuta traditional council) who subsequently forwarded the petition to the Volta regional house of chiefs.

On February 15, 2017, the Volta regional house of chiefs presided over by Nana Soglo Allo IV – president of the regional house of chiefs – gave the nod to Togbe Osei Tutu Brempong III to form a committee of Reconciliation to go into the dispute.

The committee of eminent chiefs and a Catholic Priest began work on 8th March 2017.

After several meetings, discussions, cajoling and coaxing, the prominent chiefs and their king makers decided that enough was enough. A few weeks ago the chiefs of Anyigbe met at Kpando Aloyi and took the first major step towards their reconciliation and unification. They revoked their respective curses, and paid the fines as dictated by the Kpando tradition and customs.

They performed all the customary rites necessary for the revocation of the curses and slaughtered rams as seal of their commitment. They then set 19th October for the final reunification where all the chiefs ate from the same bowl and drank from the same bottle.

Togbe Afendza III chief of Kpando Fesi and divisional chief of Kpando, Togbe Komla Teng chief of Kpando Aloyi and Togbe Dewusie VII chief of Kpando Aziave shook hands and hugged they for the first time in public after more than 30 years. They have vowed to abide by the agreements reached by the Togbe Ayim Reconciliation/unification committee. They called on their subjects to do same, forgive and forget anything anyone might have done to them as a result of the protracted dispute. Kpando they said is bigger than any one of them.

About 32 years ago a chieftaincy dispute in Kpando erupted over the years the Kpando traditional council was virtually disintegrated. Kpando Anyigbe Division which is the right-wing division and the war leaders of Kpando were also caught up in the feud. The Anyigbe division comprises Kpando Fesi, Kpando Aloyi and Kpando Aziave.

With the Anyigbes united, the committee of eminent chiefs mediating the Kpando chieftaincy dispute have crossed the second major step in finding a lasting solution to the problems bedevilling the Kpando chieftaincy institution. They have the herculean task of bringing all factions in Kpando together.

But Togbe Ayim, chairman of the mediation committee believes the task ahead is not as daunting as the task already completed. The committee is optimistic that before long the challenges of Kpando will be a thing of the past and that Kpando will once again resume its enviable position as the shining star in the Volta region.

The people of Kpando are also very optimistic that finally, they will be able to celebrate their festival Dayigba kaka which has not been celebrated in over 30 years. They were full of praise for the MP Hon. Mrs. Della Sowah.