Residents of Alavanyo and Nkonya both in the Volta Region have appealed to government to relax a curfew imposed on the towns.
About a month ago, the Interior Ministry imposed a curfew on the two towns following recurrent gun violence fueled by chieftaincy disputes.
The period which is from 6:00pm to 6:00am, has seen the return of relative peace and calm to the area.
However, a member of the National Peace Council and a native of one of the towns, Clemence Gyato, is appealing to government to for curfew hours to be extended.
He made the appeal during a Visit by the Volta Regional Minister, Helen Adjoa Ntoso to Alavanyo and Nkonya in the Hohoe Municipality and Biakoye District, respectively
Helen Ntoso’s visit was part of activities to mark World Peace Day on Monday.
“We are begging for the curfew to be relaxed especially because we are entering a period of festive occasions. We are begging that it should be reviewed in a way so that our people can have a little freedom to stay for the festivities. We promise we will not mar the occasion with conflict,” Mr Gyato appealed on behalf of the residents.
Mr. Gyato also expressed the readiness of the two towns to come together for lasting peace to prevail.
“We [Nkonyas] are ready for peace. The Alavanyo’s too are ready for peace. I was in Avalanyo alone with the Regional Minister and nobody picked a gun along with me. I drove alone in my car to Alavanyo and I drove through the bush road to Alavanyo. I ate their coconut and they did not poison me and I think if we can come back again together it will be very good. Ninety something years of shooting and killing is not the best,” he said.
Helen Adjoa Ntoso said she is convinced some individuals benefit from the seeming unending violence between the two towns.
“Some people are taking undue advantage of the conflict and doing their own things but I can assure you that God himself will pick them up. I prayed that God will rain peace, and he has. So if they don’t stop it, God himself will hold their hand and pull them and bring them to me and I can assure you if it happens I will set a very good example and the whole world will hear about it,” she said.
She further urged women in the two towns to play an integral role in peace building by reporting nefarious activities by their male counterparts.
She says this will prevent any further conflict that affects women and children most.
