Workshop to resolve chieftaincy dispute held in Buipe

Buipe, (N/R), June 25, GNA - A two-day workshop to promote dialogue and empower chiefs, opinion leaders and religious bodies to resolve the protracted chieftaincy dispute in the Central Gonja District was held at the weekend in Buipe, the district capital.

The dispute had led to the loss of lives and property and created a situation of suspicion and mistrust among the people of the once peaceful district.

The Centre for Rural Improvement Services (CRIS) a community based Non Governmental Organisation operating in the Northern Region, in collaboration with the Central Gonja District Assembly organized the workshop which also aims at promoting peace among the people.

It brought together women, the youth, chiefs, opinion leaders, religious bodies, security agencies and civil society organizations to foster understanding and promote dialogue in resolving disputes.

Topics treated include; 93Overview of Understanding Conflict and Peace," 93Negotiation and Peer Mediation," 93Concept of Early Warning and Reporting and Building Self Esteem."

Mr Amos Mahama Seidu, Executive Director of the CRIS, said the workshop had become necessary in view of the protracted chieftaincy dispute in Buipe which had led to the loss of lives and property and created a situation of suspicion and mistrust among the once peaceful people.

He encouraged the people to always remain calm and resort to dialogue to solve their problems instead of resorting to violence, since that could not bring any meaningful development.

Mr Haruna Husheini Sulemana, Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), said it was regrettable that Gonja's who were known for their peaceful succession to skins were unfortunately now introducing violence into their chieftaincy institution and urged them to go back to their cherished ways of selecting their chiefs.

He said it was also regrettable that the youth who were the future leaders were those being manipulated by self-seeking people and politicians to engage in violence and therefore advised them to be wary of such people who were only out to destroy their future.

Mr Sulemana, also a member of the Northern Region Peace Advisory Council, advised the people of Buipe that it was only through their efforts that peace could be restored and not through the interference of outsiders.