Nkonya, Alavanyo apologise to President Mahama

The chiefs and people of Nkonya and Alavanyo have rendered an  apology to President John Dramani Mahama for breaching an agreement with him to avoid any fighting between the two communities.

The agreement was reached when the paramount chiefs of the two areas met with the President in Accra in August,last year.

But contrary to the agreement, a soldier was fired upon on October 9, 2014 at Alavanyo Kpeme and unknown gunmen also fired into Alavanyo Deme township on November, 2014 to be followed by another shooting incident at Alavanyo Kpeme on November 26 and 27.

As if that was not enough, a 54-year old man from Alavanyo Wudidi was shot dead on his way to his farm on November 28, 2014.

Joint apology

In an apology letter jointly signed by the two paramount chiefs, Togbe Tsedze Atakora VII from Alavanyo and Nana Okoto Kofi II from Nkonya, they expressed their embarrassment at  the incidents, and for having let the President down.

“ Although the recent incidents were not directly or indirectly planned and executed by either side of the traditional leadership, we feel that these are the very acts which we sat before the President and pledged to not let happen in our communities again. For this reason, we profusely regret and wish to render this apology to His Excellency the President. We say we are deeply sorry for letting you down”, the apology stated.

Intermarriages

Receiving the apology on behalf of the President, the Volta Regional Minister, Ms Helen Adjoa Ntoso, commended the people for their stance and stressed the need to strengthen collaboration to smoke out the people behind the conflict.

She said  the limited resources which should have been channelled into meaningful development for the people were diverted into keeping the peace.

The Chairman of the Volta Region Peace Council, Reverend Monsignor Anthony Kornu, challenged the chiefs to be in total control of their people.