A five member fact finding committee has been inaugurated in Tamale look into the Chekosis and Konkomba communal conflict in the Cherponi area.
The Committee to be chaired by a former inspector general of Police, Patrick Achempong has until January 12 to submit its recommendation to the Interior Minister.
Other members of the committee are: Rev. Father Thadeous Kusah from the Regional Peace Council, Paul Kwasi Ahiakpor from the REGSEC, Pastor Azumah Kofi representing the Anafos and Joshua Yipirr, from the Kokomba side.
The Interior minister, Ambrose Derry who inaugurated the committee at a ceremony witnessed by the Ministers for National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah and the Chieftaincy and Religious affairs Minister, Senyo Dzamesi among others stakeholders, charged the committee to do a diligent work that would help to bring permanent resolution to the conflict which he added had potentials to derailing the president’s developmental agenda for the area.
Part of the peace conference was devoted to allowing traditional rulers from the Kokomba and Anafo sides on Chereponi and Saboba as well as youth leaders from the Anafu and KoYA to state their case and make determinations towards the peace process.
Earlier, the catholic archbishop of Tamale, Most Rev Philip Naameh who is also the chairman of the regional Peace advisory council implored the two sides to resort to dialogue in ironing out their differences rather than destruction of lives and other properties. He also condemned the use of social media in fanning the conflict.
Northern regional minister and head of the regional security council, Salifu Saeed who chaired the event regretted that the two ethnic groups that have hitherto co-habited peacefully would allow a misunderstanding over a parcel of land to degenerate into bloodshed and destruction of several properties.
Representatives from the two warring sides including traditional rulers and other opinion leaders including former and present members of parliaments, former and present district chiefs’ executives for Saboba and Chereponi were present for the meeting.
