Kpando chiefs smoke peace pipe

The long-standing chieftaincy dispute between the chiefs of Kpando Aziavi, Togbe Diawusie III of Aziavi, Togbui Afendza III Fesi, and chief of Aloyi, Togbe Komla Teng V will soon be a thing of the past as the chiefs have agreed to smoke the peace pipe.

Speaking at a durbar in Kpando, the chairman of a Reconciliation Committee set up by the Volta Regional House of Chiefs to settle the dispute, Paramount Chief of Ziavi Traditional Area, Togbe Kwaku Ayim IV stated that the dispute which has lasted for over thirty years (30) has stalled the development of the area.

He said the Member of Parliament for the area, Della Sowah last year, appealed to the Akpini Traditional Council to intervene in the matter and they, in turn, referred the matter to the Regional House of Chiefs.

According to him, the climax of the reconciliation process will take place on October 19, 2017, in the palace of Togbe Afendza III at Kpando Fesi.

He said all sides will present rams which will be used to prepare food to be shared by all on the same day. He added that the three disputing chiefs will eat from the same bowl to signify the end of the dispute.

Togbe Kwaku Ayim IV said the Kpando Traditional Area would return to its past glory when peace and unity prevails.

Steps to unity

As the first step to reconciliation, the two chiefs of the Anyigbe Division of Kpando on Thursday, September 21, 2017, performed traditional rituals to reverse the oath sworn against each other and to pacify their stools.

The feuding parties also presented a ram each and three bottles of schnapps.

The head of the ‘Stool Fathers’ in Kpando poured libation to cancel the oaths and called for unity among the people of the land.

As tradition demands, the Stool Fathers of Fesi and Aloyi also came together to perform some rites to cancel the oaths.

They embraced each other as a sign of nullifying the oaths against both sides.

October 19, 2017, was set aside by the two sides to perform the final rituals that will mark the climax of the reconciliation process of the Anyigbe division.



Historical moment

In a speech, the Member of Parliament for the Kpando, Mrs Della Sowah said the day was historical because the event marked the beginning of the end of the chieftaincy dispute among the people of Kpando.

She said the presence of all other chiefs from Gbodome and Atsifome divisions signified their commitment to come together for the development of the area.

Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Kpando, Mr Elvis Djampoh said although the two Chiefs were his childhood friends it had been difficult to associate with any of them because of the dispute.

He was, therefore, grateful for Della Sowah’s efforts to reconcile them.