Gov’t can’t force peace on anybody – President Mahama

President John Mahama
President John Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday visited Alavanyo in the Volta Region and called on the people to maintain and sustain the peace accord they signed some months ago.

He also appealed to them to co-exist peacefully by burying the differences that had separated them over the years.

“There cannot be development without peace and the only way you can develop is by resorting to dialogue in every aspect of your lives.”

President Mahama’s visit is in reaction to the communal conflicts that had polarized the two communities for the last 90 years.

Their difference that is hinged on parcels of lands had also led to the deaths of many citizens, while others had been maimed over the years.

The visit is also to nurture the peace accord the two feuding communities signed a couple of months ago in Accra, at the invitation of President Mahama.

President Mahama gave the assurance that both government and the National Peace Council would continue to provide an enabling environment for permanent peace in the area and urged them to consolidate that by embracing peace and unity.

The President said nobody could force peace on them in the two communities until they initiated peace talks and harmonization among themselves to end the almost century old conflict.

President Mahama encouraged them to take advantage of the numerous arable lands to better their lots by engaging in massive farming in the area, adding that, “there is the potential of development here”.

He commended the National Peace Council and the security services for maintaining peace over the years in the area.

The President said government had instituted periodic meetings between the two communities in the coming years until there was perpetual peace in the area.

Reverend Emmanuel Asante, Chairman of the National Peace Council congratulated the people of Alavanyo for making a commitment to maintain peace in the area and advised them to find an alternative to their conflicting posture by using acceptable means of settling their differences.

He said the National Peace Council would continue to support them to maintain peace and harmony in the area and urged them to adhere to the peace accord they signed to pave way for development.

Togbega Tsedze Attakora VII, Paramount Chief of Alavanyo, commended President Mahama for visiting them, describing it as historic, since it was the first time a sitting President had visited the township since independence.

He appealed to government to provide them with good roads and other development projects that would propel the development agenda of the area.

Togbega Attakora said the perennial excuse that funds meant for their development projects were used for peace keeping was unacceptable, since they were not the only community engaged in conflicts.

He gave the assurance that the people of his community would comply with all the tenets of the peace accord they signed a couple of months ago.

Source: GNA

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