[ 2012-06-18 ]

Queen mother seeks peace in Hohoe
The queen mother of Gbi-Abanse, Mama Dzidoasi has
appealed to both the Gbi Traditional authorities
and the Zongo community to assist in facilitating
the peace building process initiated by the Volta
Regional minister Hon. Ford Kamel to bring lasting
peace to the Hohoe Municipality.

According to her, the recent disturbances that
erupted between some youth of the zongo community
and indigenes of the Gbi-traditional area can only
be address by the players involved.

She said efforts made by the Volta Regional
Minister by bringing in influential persons
including the Vice President John Mahama, the
National Chief Imam and other personalities can
achieve results only if the people involved
appreciate the need for peace.

She observed that the crises have seriously
affected commercial activities in the area.

Speaking in an interview with Joy News’ Agbeko Ben
Coffie, Mama Dzidoasi revealed the conflict has
affected women and children, as most women can no
longer engage in their petty trade business.

She indicated that women are scared and are
becoming suspicious of themselves because of fear
of being attacked, harassed or being beaten in the
market.

“Honestly women are suffering as a result of this
crisis. We know that it is the women that run the
home by taking care of the children. But as we
speak most women are at home and the children have
become burden on them so how do you expect them to
survive?” she quizzed, adding, “I understand my
colleague women from the zongo community are
unable to also visit the market,” she lamented.

Mama hinted that most of these women trade in
perishable goods with some of them running their
businesses with loans accessed from the banks.
Therefore, if this conflict does not stop as early
as possible most women who engage in petty trading
as well as their children will become more
vulnerable and may become a burden onto the
society.

The queen mother also expressed concerns about the
initial approach by the security towards the
people particularly the police as she described
their conduct as a threat rather than to ensure
peace.

She was however quick to add that she was
delighted that the situation is normalized.

She also advised the people of Gbi and the Zongo
community to respect the curfew, which has been
imposed by the regional Security Council and
appealed to them to be mindful of their utterances
that may generate unnecessary tension in the
area.

Mama Dzidoasi expressed gratitude to the chiefs of
the Gbi traditional area and Zongo leadership for
the mature manner they have so far demonstrated in
restraining the youth in engaging in acts that may
compromised the peace process that is currently on
going.

“I am impressed with the process of building peace
so far. Most of the chiefs left their work from
various parts of the country and have come to
Hohoe to assist in bringing Hohoe to its normal
state” adding, that the people of Gbi have so far
lost two innocent lives because of the conflict.

She urged the people to embrace peace and be
decorum in discussing issues of religion, tribe
saying that when not well handled it may incur the
displeasure of the parties involved.

Source - Joy News

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