Speakers at the Yam Festival celebration (Linujil) of the Konkomba people at Kpassa in the Nkwanta-North District have called on the people to use dialogue and lawful means to resolve their differences instead of resorting to the barrel of a gun.
They stressed that it was only when the people lived in peace and unity that they could mobilise resources to improve their livelihood.
Those who made the call included the Overlord of Kpassa, Ubor Konja Nanja Tassan VI; the Oti Regional Minister, John Kwadwo Gyapong; the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkwanta-North, John Oti Bless; MP for Kpandai, Mathew Nyindam, and the President of the Konkomba Youth Association (KOYA), Titus Jawol.
In separate statements, they stressed that communal violence and chieftaincy conflicts were a drawback to development and must be addressed using appropriate structures.
The Linujil held at Kpassa last Saturday brought together Konkombas from across the country and some state officials, among whom were the Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John Mburidiba, and the Board Chairman of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Nayon Bilijo.
The festival was held on the theme: “Sow unity, reap development” to underscore the direct link between a peaceful society and sustainable development.
Conflicts
Ubor Konja described the situation where Konkomba communities fought among themselves over parcels of farmlands and chieftaincy issues as “unacceptable and most unfortunate”, stressing that it hindered development.
“For too long, the shadow of chieftaincy conflicts and misunderstandings in some of our communities has threatened to disrupt our social fabric and divert our energies away from progress. Some people have fought among themselves over parcels of farmland or chieftaincy, leading to the loss of lives and property.
We cannot continue on this path if we want to develop,” he stressed.
He implored all feuding factions, families, and traditional houses locked in chieftaincy disputes and misunderstandings over farmlands to lay down the weapons of division.
The Kpassa Chief appealed to all stakeholders to play their part to bring lasting peace to Konkomba communities.
“Let us remember that there is no difference between the left ear of a horse and the right ear of the same horse; let us fight against underdevelopment as our common enemy; let us fight poverty as our common enemy,” he said.
Peace is key
Mr Gyapong described the theme for the celebration as appropriate, saying it spoke to the need to maintain peace as a way of mobilising resources for development.
"As the theme succinctly captures, peace is the seed, and development is the harvest; a community cannot reap development when it has not sowed unity.
I, therefore, appeal to all of you to ensure that peace is maintained and sustained in Kpassa and other communities in the Oti Region," he said.
The minister urged members of the public, particularly the youth, to choose dialogue over conflict, and reconciliation over revenge while using approved systems to resolve differences.
"Let this Linujil mark the beginning of peace, unity, and togetherness in this area," he said.
Common enemy
For his part, the Nkwanta-North MP asked the Konkomba people to remain united, and to fight the common enemy of poverty, illiteracy and under-development instead of resorting to communal violence and chieftaincy conflicts.
"If we want to develop as a people, we must be united; we must stop fighting one another over farmland and chieftaincy; we must translate our numbers into a united force to pursue a common development agenda," he said.
Mr Bless stressed the need for criminal elements within Konkomba communities to be made to face the law instead of shielding them from facing the law.
The MP for Kpandai also spoke about the need for chiefs and opinion leaders to come together and address the triggers of chieftaincy and land disputes.
He stressed that chiefs must play a crucial role in settling those disputes in an amicable manner rather than taking sides or skewing the facts.
"We are politicians, and we sometimes fear to face the truth because we fear to lose elections.
As a chief, you do not have elections to lose, so speak the truth to them," he said.
Mr Jawol said communal conflicts and infighting among Konkomba clans were inimical to development and needed to be stopped.
