Brong Ahafo fast losing respect as peaceful region

The Chairperson of the Brong Ahafo Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Reverend Dr William Kwabena Ofosu-Addo, has expressed worry over how the region is fast losing its respect as a peaceful one in the country.

According to him, there is evidence of communal violence and other acts of violence in some parts of the region, such as the recent indiscriminate killings, attacks on some politicians, armed robbery, kidnapping of innocent children for religious and economic rituals reported in the media and by the police.

Rev. Ofosu-Addo mentioned Sankore, Atebubu, Nsoatre and Duayaw-Nkwanta among other areas as some of the flashpoints that had recorded high incidence of violence in the region.

He was speaking during a press conference organised by the Brong Ahafo Presbytery to round up its 52nd presbytery session held on the theme: “Let the earth hear” in Sunyani.

According to him, the situation has led to many people, especially those in the affected areas, revising their notes about the perception that Brong Ahafo is a peaceful region.

He urged the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to take the necessary steps to combat the insecurity that had led to some residents living in fear.

Peace for development

Rev. Ofosu-Addo said peace and security were ingredients for growth and development of every nation and must be embraced by all.

“We should feel proud and grateful to God that Ghana is relatively peaceful, safe and secure. However, we are disturbed by the emerging threats and challenges to this peace and security in the region,” he stated.

Land litigations

Rev. Ofosu-Addo expressed worry over land litigations between the church and some traditional authorities and considered the development as unfortunate due to the long-standing relationship that had existed between the two since the church’s establishment.

He explained that the church did not intend to litigate on land matters with the various traditional authorities because of the respect it had for them.

“Upon this relational premise, we shall expect Nananom to dialogue with the church in situations of such nature, rather than forcefully taking over our lands, and thus pushing the church into litigation,” he stated.

Rev. Dr Ofosu-Addo said the church over the years had supported a number of communities with health, education and advocacy policies and gave an assurance that the presbytery would promote peaceful coexistence among Nananom and their communities.

Governance and the state

On governance, Rev. Ofosu-Addo lamented comments by some politicians which had reduced politics to propaganda and opportunity for personal aggrandisement.

“Lately, the easiest way to make money is to join politics. The situation has rendered other jobs insignificant and unmotivating,” he said.

He observed that the worst part of the democratic process was the situation where political parties had hijacked the media, explaining that most discussions on air, especially in the mornings, had been reduced to political gymnastics.

He said economic hardship and the resultant proliferation of the media had turned the profession into economic gains.