Use due process to settle disputes

Spread May 7/2008

Story: Charles Benoni Okine

FACTIONS in chieftaincy disputes who will be caught using arms to settle their differences will be made to face the full rigours of the law, the government has declared.
The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who sounded the warning when the Omanhene of the Prang Traditional Area, Nana Kwadwo Nyarko, called on him in Accra yesterday, said during disputes, factions should use the due process.
He described the use of arms in resolving conflicts in certain parts of the country as unacceptable, saying such a practice gave wrong impressions about Ghana.
He said Ghana was a peaceful country and so the government would not tolerate such conflicts which had the potential to destabilise the its peace, which had become the envy of many on the continent.
Consequently, he urged the National House of Chiefs to intervene in any disturbing chieftaincy matter that was likely to degenerate into conflict.
Alhaji Mahama said it was incomprehensible to believe how people would take up arms to kill their fellow human beings because of issues of chieftaincy.
“We have a peaceful country. Ghana is stable and we are working hard to ensure that this stability and peace are maintained,” he said.
The Vice-President said it was unfortunate that while efforts were being made to consolidate the peace and stability in the country, some people had resorted to the use of arms to foment trouble.
He expressed the hope that the chieftaincy body would intervene in any of such cases to ensure peace in the country.
In his response to a request for the provision of a school bus for the foremost senior high school (SHS) in the Prang area, Alhaji Mahama said the government had imported about 100 buses for distribution to some SHSs and pledged to ensure that at least one of the buses would be released to the school.
On the request for a model school made by the Omanhene, Alhaji Mahama called for patience, saying, “This programme of providing each district with a model SHS is on course. We only appeal for patience, as it is being implemented in phases and every district is bound to have one as planned.”
He said the first phase saw the elevation of 31 schools, explaining that the second phase comprising of 25 schools was in progress.
Alhaji Mahama also asked the people of Prang to be patient with the government as efforts were being made to provide them with more potable water and access roads to enable them to live more comfortably.
Nana Nyarko, whose call on the Vice-President was to remind the government of the promises it made to the people some time ago, expressed the hope that the promises would be fulfilled.
He expressed gratitude to the government for what it had done for the people of Prang in the past but noted that the issues about the school, health, roads and water were dear to the hearts of the people.