Monsignor Anthony Kornu Vicar-General of the Ho Diocese of the Catholic Church on Tuesday appealed to the people of Tsito and Peki traditional areas to approach their peace talks with openness, truthfulness and prayers.
He said the two sides needed total commitment to the peace process with each of them trying not to take advantage of one other.
Monsignor Kornu was speaking at a Peace Building Rally at Dededo in the Ho Municipality as part of the peace process to settle years of
land litigation that sometimes degenerated into skirmishes between the two traditional areas.
The peace restoration process is an initiative of some Christian leaders from Tsito/Awudome and Peki with support from the EP Church, Ghana.
The rally was heralded by singing; drumming and dancing with chiefs and opinion leaders from the two traditional areas, mediators and townsfolk of Dededo taking active part in the fanfare.
Togbe Ayim Mordey VI, Chief of Peki-Avetile and Togbe Gobo Dake XII, Chief of Tsito-Awudome stole the show when they danced and embraced each other to indicate their commitment to the peace process.
Apostles Revelation Society Choir from Ho under the leadership of Israel Nanevi Maweta was the toast of the gathering, with his special
composition dedicated to the peace overtures.
Togbe Ayim Mordey urged the dancing to go on, quoting William Shakespeare that “if music be the food of love, play on”.
He recounted how a basic school on the disputed land collapsed and was abandoned, expressing the hope that the peace process would
set the tone for accelerated development in the area.
Togbe Gobo Dake observed that “only neighbours fight over land”, explaining that it was time for the Pekis and Awudomes to unite,
forget the past and forge ahead as one people to develop their areas.
He warned that people who were fuelling misunderstanding through rumour mongering could pose a threat to the peace process.
“Only truthfulness can bring peace”, Togbe Gobo Dake stressed.
Reverend P.C.K Letsu Kuma, Chairman of the Peki-Tsito/Awudome Peace Building Committee said work on the restoration of peace between the two traditional areas “has no reverse gear” and appealed to all stakeholders to help bring lasting peace to the area.