Residents of Nkonya and Alavanyo in the Volta Region have welcomed a proposal by the Regional Security Council to conduct a disarmament exercise in the area to curb the recent killings in the area.
According to the residents, they are ready to assist government and the security agencies to bring an end to the violence in the shortest possible time.
The residents welcomed the disarmament programme after the Minister for the Volta Region, Dr. Archiebald Yao Letsa made the announcement recently in Ho.
The Minister, who is also the Chairman of the REGSEC, also added that persons in possession of illegal weapons would be granted amnesty if they voluntarily surrender them to the security agencies.
He therefore called on residents in the volatile zone of Nkonya and Alavanyo to cooperate with government and the security agencies
This year, about six persons have been shot dead by unknown assailants in Alavanyo and Nkonya.
The dispute, which has led to the loss of lives and property and hampered development, has become problematic for successive governments.
Several initiatives to broker peace have been unsuccessful, and the killings have been attributed to the proliferation of illegal weapons.
The Regional Minister, who was speaking to some youth of Nkonya and Alavanyo in Ho recently, was optimistic the disarmament exercise in addition to other strategies would help curb the violence in the two areas.
The youth, who called on the Minister and the REGSEC, issued a statement to declare their support for a peaceful resolution of the century-old land dispute.
Pongo Francis and Kokroko Ashong, who represented Alvanyo and Nkonya respectively, called for a permanent truce among their people.
They said the youth would assist the security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators of deadly acts in the area.
That notwithstanding, they urged the security agencies to be proactive and deal ruthlessly with anyone found with weapons.
The meeting was attended by members of the Regional Security Council and the Regional Peace Council.
From Fred Duodu, Ho (freduoo@gmail.com)