Last week’s shooting of a linguist in Alavanyo which breached the peace deal in the Alavanyo-Nkonya conflict, has re-ignited calls for the protracted boundary dispute to be settled through mediation.
A number of peace deals reached as a result of talks facilitated by the government continue to be occasionally breached with attacks and counter attacks.
Although various experts have called for a professional mediation process, successive governments and security chiefs continue to use a reactive approach in attempting to address the impasse.
But according to Mr Gabriel Atsu, an ADR practitioner, there would continue to be breaches until the leaders and people of the two sides understand and accept the need to co-exist peacefully irrespective of their interests.
In an interview with ADRDaily, Mr Atsu, Head of the Central Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Ashaiman, attributed the protracted nature of the conflict to the in comprehensive and uncoordinated mechanisms adopted to resolve it.
“This dispute has persisted because of the approach that has been adopted by the government. Our government has been using arbitration towards resolving the conflict which can never resolve the issue,” he said. He explained that the government’s decision to cease the land and use it as a training camp was unilaterally imposed unto the parties without them agreeing to it; a settlement which contravenes the rules of mediation.
Mr Atsu emphasised that “the best approach towards resolving the Alavanyo-Nkonya conflict is to use mediation. This is the way which will allow the parties to sit at a table to caucus and find out their concerns and demands.”
By: Francis Tandoh/adrdaily.com
