Committee on Tongo-Beo Conflict Inaugurated.

Bolgatanga Feb. 23, GNA - A Five-Member Committee on the Tongo-Beo conflict was on Wednesday inaugurated in Bolgatanga to examine the circumstances that caused the conflict and make recommendations to help solve it.

Mr. David Bakari, Upper East Regional co-coordinating Director, who inaugurated the committee on behalf of the Regional Minister, Mr. Boniface Gambilla, appealed to the people to channel their energies and resources to improve upon the deprived nature of their area.

He said following the conflict, schools had to be closed down and resources that could have been used for development rather channelled into catering for security agents who were deployed there to keep peace.

"Good Governance cannot be realized in an atmosphere of conflict or chaos, we are all expected to live in peace and harmony in order to have development', he said.

The committee is expected to determine the circumstances that led to the conflict, see whether ownership of land was a factor in the conflict, and also if traditional allegiances to either the Tongo-Rana or the Zuarungu Naba had any bearing on the conflict.

Mr. B.S. Nyari, Regional Director of Lands Commission, who is the chairman of the committee said the committee appreciates the situation and would take its responsibility faithfully and diligently. He said it would focus on coming out with practical recommendations and asked for the support of all the communities in the area.

"We would like you to see us as neutral agents and bring us only what is true, because lies will only lead us to wrong conclusions", he added.

The chairman assured the people that the committee was not an ethnic one and was not going to find out who was right or wrong nor apportion blame on anybody, and urged them to cooperate with it.

Mr. Rockson Bukari, Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive appealed to leaders in the area to stand by the truth and work towards bringing unity and peace.

Other members of the committee include, Mr.Omahene Kwaku Boateng, of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who is the secretary, Mr. Daniel Ayiri, Regional Director, Town and Country Planning, Mr. S.N. Amponsah, Bureau for National Investigation (BNI) and Mr.K.K. Maldu, Regional Registrar, House of Chiefs.

Last January, communal violence broke out in the Talensi-Nabdam District in the Upper East Region in which some people were injured and several houses burnt.