Bishop Lodonu suggests training of Peace Building Experts

Ho, Aug 19, GNA - Rt Rev Francis Anani Lodonu, Bishop of the Ho Catholic Diocese, has suggested that church leaders, head teachers and masters, chiefs and communities leaders of repute be trained in conflict management.

He said with the skills of turning conflict into dialogue, these people would assuage the widespread bitterness in the country as a result of interpersonal, communal, sectional strife and imagined or real tribal animosities. Bishop Lodonu was closing a six-day Peace Builders Training of Trainers workshop for church leaders within the Ho Diocese in Ho on Friday.

He said conflicts from inheritance and spousal problems and petty jealousies could be handled by technically equipped people to bring peace among feuding sides.

Bishop Lodonu said peace in homes would reverberate into peace in communities, the districts, regional and then the national level. The workshop organized by the Ho Catholic Diocese with sponsorship from Misereor, Germany, was under the theme "We are Christ's Ambassadors of Peace. We Plead With You To Embrace And Cherish Peace". Bishop Lodonu said the example of what professional peace building could bring about was the recent achievement of peace between the people of Alavanyo and Nkonya who had bickered and fought over land for about 80 years.

He said scenes at the negotiations, where previous enemies, some with bullets still lodged in their bodies could interact freely, were refreshing spectacles and must be tried in other areas. Mr Emmanuel Bombande, Executive Director of the West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP) who was the facilitator at the workshop, said peace-building efforts should be a comprehensive process. He said the irony of many people unable to fend for themselves, but yet strive to acquire guns in readiness for battle with sworn enemies was real.

Rev. Father Edwin Terence Adzimah, Development Coordinator of the Diocese, said parish priests worked assiduously to divulge the message of peace building across to others. He said structures for peace making must be seen to exist at the parish levels.

A secretariat equipped with literature, furniture, computers and other office equipment was inaugurated during the workshop. Catholic priest, who is also a Lawyer, would handle all manner conflicts.