The Northern Development Forum (NDF) has noted with regret the recent bloody clashes allegedly between two ethnic groups living in Agbobloshie, last Wednesday ( April 12, 2017) which claimed at least two lives and several injuries and loss of property.
We are therefore appealing to all people from the three Northern Regions in particular and all those living in that area to put an end to these atrocities if they are really involved. As we call on the various groups to desist from all types of acts of violence, we encourage the different youth leadership to cooperate with the security agencies to bring sanity for a peaceful co-existence irrespective of their religious, tribal or political affiliations.
To the media, we call for circumspection in their reportage in such matters since a wrong report may escalate the conflict far beyond imagination throughout the country. NDF is not happy with the media twist and rushed conclusion that it was an inter-ethnic conflict. That has dangerous implications.
In our effort to promote peace and respect for the rule of law the Leadership of NDF will soon meet the opinion leaders of all the people from the three Northern Regions of Ghana who are residing at Agbobloshie. It will be recalled that the NDF last met this group on June 27, 2015 following the demolishing of their structures by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
The question of peace and stability can never be over-emphasized; it is the sine qua non of all the aims of NDF. We would therefore like to call on the youth of our three regions, in particular, and all those who live at Agbobloshie to ignore any person or group of people who will attempt to use them to incite violence or conflicts just to achieve their selfish ambitions.
It is a pity that despite being seen as a beacon of hope for democracy, good governance, and stability in Africa, Ghana is still plagued by pockets of violence emanating from ethnic tensions, resource based conflict, religious differences, chieftaincy disputes and political mayhem that often claim lives and loss of properties.
In most cases, conflict resolution and management interventions implemented to date have yielded only short term stability, partly because they have not addressed the root causes of the conflicts such as poverty, unemployment, human rights abuses, and inequality. Addressing root causes of conflict for sustained peace is a long-term objective that involves the promotion of inclusive development, which can reduce inequalities between groups and help diminish the likelihood of violent conflicts. We have to work together to find lasting solutions these perennial conflicts.
For this purpose, we wish to recommend the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to complement current security measures being undertaken. NDF is ready to collaborate with all Stakeholders and the National Peace Council not only on the Agbobloshie conflict but in all conflict-prone zones, particularly in the Northern part of Ghana.
Signed
Dr. Hakeem Wemah,
Chairman, NDF.
