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KWABRE E: DCE urges youth to embrace peace

Stakeholders at a peace forum have advised the youth to embrace peace and shun violence for sustainable economic and social development.

Date Created : 2/22/2018 4:41:21 AM : Story Author : Francis Andoh/Ghanadistricts.com

They reiterated that the absence of peace retards development in a community and it really affects the welfare of the people.

This came to light when the Kwabre East District Assembly organised a one-day peace forum at Ahwiaa to amicably address the recent violence that took place in the town between the zongo youth and the Ashanti youth.

Addressing the gathering, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Hon. Nana Osei Asibey Bonsu was worried about the instances that led to the violence and appealed to the traditional authorities, opinion leaders, clergy and all stakeholders in the town to ensure that peace prevails in the community.

He revealed that the conflict that happened was not that of religious or ethnic but rather a social vice among the youth in the Ahwiaa Township.

Hon. Osei Asibey Bonsu again revealed that the District Security Committee (DISEC) would continue to conduct security swoops in the Ahwiaa Township to ensure that peace is perpetually established; and therefore, appealed to the authorities to play their part to ensure that there is lasting peace.

He also warned parents and authorities not to interfere in the work of the security forces by pleading for clemency when their relatives or loved ones are found to be part of the offenders.

For his part, the Ahwiaahene, Nana Yeboah Asiamah blamed the media for exaggerating the issue on the airwaves. He also added that the conflict was a display of social vice in the town and not that of ethnic supremacy or religious supremacy.

He also disclosed that, the conflict could be attributed to the high rate of unemployment in the town. He reiterated the old saying that “the devil finds work for the idle hands”, thus the government should consider creating more employment opportunities in the town to give opportunities to the youth to get them occupied always.

He said the two groups have co-existed in the town for the past 60 years. There have been inter marriages, friends have been made and new families have also been made so the instances that led to the conflict should never happen again.

Nana Asiamah Yeboah revealed that the bad nuts among the two groups should be fished out and punished to serve as deterrent to other people who in the future will fancy repeating it. He added that thieves and criminals included themselves in the act and ransacked some shops.

The Member of Parliament for the constituency, Hon. Francisca Oteng Mensah, thanked the organisers of the programme for putting up a forum to address the conflict. She also thanked the security services for their swift response to the distress call made to them.

She also appealed to the authorities in the community to ensure that the peace being enjoyed will last forever. She also called for collaborative efforts from both groups to ensure that the violence is never repeated.

She was depressed that a durbar had been organised and the agenda was on the need for peace and not that of the inauguration of a developmental project. She added that the district has become multi-cultural which houses a lot of tribes so “we must all learn to co-exist”.

The zongo chief also grumbled the violence and urged all stakeholders to ensure that nothing of that sort happens again. He added that he will do all within his means to ensure that nothing of that sort happens again.

The representative from the Ashanti Regional Peace Council, Sheikh Mohammed Kamel also appealed to the factions to embrace peace and shun violence. He urged all the factions to forgive and forget all that has happened and forge ahead in unity.

He also appealed to the media to devote most of their airwaves to the promotion of peace and not always discuss politics and sports.

Youth leaders from both factions pledged to promote peace and unity in the township and ensure that their followers do not involve themselves in any violence again. They promised to report all offenders to the appropriate authorities for the law to deal with them.

An 18-member committee was inaugurated to assist in the maintenance of peace in the town. The members are Opanain Osei Kwame, Opanin Osei Yaw, Richard Duah, Adusei Appiah, Thomas K. Adubofour, Baba Musah Yentenneah and Aliu Tahiru.

The others are Mohammed Mustapha, Rev. J.B. Danquah, Imam Muniru and Rev, Ofori Atta Amanfo. The four Assembly members in the Ahwiaa Township and three women yet to be named will be included in the committee.

The committee will work alongside the DISEC and all recognised groups to ensure that such violence is never repeated in the Ahwiaa Township again.

It will be recalled that some few weeks ago, it was reported that a misunderstanding ensued between the zongo youth and their counterparts from the Ashantis. Several properties were destroyed and others got injured but there was no life lose.