Govt committed to ensuring peace, unity among traditional authorities – VR Minister

 The Volta Regional Minis­ter, Dr Archibald Letsa, has stated that the government will support efforts to ensure peace and unity among traditional authorities in the country.

He said the government recog­nises the important roles chiefs play in national development and committed to enhancing peace efforts, “as peace is a prerequisite for the country’s development.”

Speaking at the inaugural cer­emony of the Union of Tongu Chiefs (UTC) at Juapong in the North Tongu District, last Satur­day, Dr Letsa stressed the need for unity among chiefs to foster development.

The union consists of 13 paramount chiefs from the three Tongu districts: North, South, and Central Tongu.

Its primary goal is to promote peace and unity among the chiefs and people of Tongu, to accelerate development.

Dr Letsa gave the assurance that the government would support the UTC in its objective of main­taining peace in Tongu to attract necessary development.

Dr Letsa also noted that the formation of the union was timely, as it would help maintain peace during and after the 2024 general election, and urged other tradi­tional areas in the Volta Region to follow the Tongu chiefs’ example to ensure regional peace and devel­opment.

The Paramount Chief of Anfoe­ga Traditional Area and President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs (VRHC), Togbe Tepre Hodo, expressed concern about the high number of chieftaincy disputes in the region and called on stakeholders to resolve all such disputes.

He announced that 49 chieftain­cy disputes were pending before the VRHC, describing this as a disturbing trend that hindered regional development.

Togbe Hodo expressed the hope that the Union of Tongu Chiefs would not become a ground for chieftaincy disputes but would use its influence to resolve pending cases amicably to promote peace and unity in Tongu. He noted that similar attempts to form associa­tions in the Volta Region had failed due to petty conflicts and urged other paramount chiefs to emulate the Tongu chiefs to promote regional peace.

The President of UTC and Paramount Chief of Sokpoe Traditional Area, Togbega Kadzi Zogah II, said the union would work to achieve its mandate in the region.

He called for peace during and after the 2024 general election.

 FROM SAMUEL AGBEWODE, JUAPONG