The three paramount chiefs whose traditional areas are affected by the raging Gomoa and Effutu land disputes and litigations, have pledged their readiness to resolve the issue amicably to allow peace to prevail.
The traditional authorities have, therefore, assured their respective Members of Parliament (MPs) and Chief Executives who are working to have the impasse resolved, of their unflinching commitments to assisting them to have the issues settled.
This came to light when the MPs, led by the Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Desmond De-Graft Paitoo, Richard Gyan-Mensah and Naana Eyiah, who are MPs for Gomoa East, West and Central respectively, paid a courtesy call on overlords of Gomoa and Effutu.
Also in attendance were MCE of Effutu, Kassim Zubairu and respective District Chief Executives of Gomoa West, Central and East, Messrs Bismark Baisie Nkum, Benjamin Kojo Otoo and Solomon Darko-Quarm, who are all members of the team.
The meeting marked the first engagement of the MPs and their respective Chief Executives with the traditional authorities of the affected traditional areas, as part of their resolve to bring the ongoing land litigation between the two areas to an end.
Separate visits to the chiefs
In the process, the Afenyo-Markin led team first visited Gomoa Ajumako Traditional area, where they interacted with the Omanhen, Obrempong Nyamfo Krampah, who is also the president of the Traditional Council and his cabinet.
This was followed by a visit to the president of the Gomoa Assin Traditional Council and Obirifo Ahunakor Ahor Ankobea before they engaged with the Omanhene of Effutu Traditional Area, Nenyi Ghartey, at his palace in Winneba.
As political leaders, the team assured the chiefs that they would not allow self-seeking individuals to patronise them and use their names to foment trouble within the Gomoa and Effutu enclaves.
They also pledged to work hand in hand with the traditional authorities and other interest groups and opinion leaders to find a lasting solution to the matter, so that the people of Gomoa and their brothers and sisters from Effutu would continue to live in peace.
They further discussed plans to form Gomoa-Effutu Development Authority to spearhead the development of the two main areas, to ensure massive development that would be beneficial to the people, devoid of rancour and acrimony.
On behalf of the team, Mr Afenyo-Markin extended their appreciation to the chiefs for their resolve to ensure that the issue at stake would be properly handled to end the seeming tension that has been growing between Gomoa and Effutu of the ownership of disputed lands.
The decades old land ownership between the people of Gomoa and Effutu in the Central Region, nearly reared its ugly head recently leading to seeming massive tension between the two traditional areas.
The people of Gomoa have recently alleged that their lands were being massively encroached on by Effutu and therefore, demonstrated their displeasure, which led to the growing of tension.
To ensure peace and tranquility, the four members of parliament of Gomoa and Effutu have decided to come together and use a bipartisan approach to tackle the matter and eventually get it resolved.
Earlier press briefing in Accra
Addressing journalists in Accra ahead of their visit, Mr Afenyo-Markin described the long standing land disputes between Gomoa and Effutu as very disturbing and called for amicable means to get it resolved quickly.
“There is a disturbing matter within our enclave, the Effutu-Gomoa enclave. We met and had discussions aimed at ensuring calm and peace within that enclave in the Central Region”. He said.
He added that “We met as leaders for our community yesterday, and we are not here as NDC or NPP. That is why we are here together to make this strong case to let the people, our chiefs, opinion leaders, all stakeholders, businessmen and women know that we stand for peace”,
“We stand united in our unwavering commitment to resolving this issue and safeguarding the ancestral lands and all chiefs within our jurisdiction. At a joint meeting held yesterday, we carefully considered the concerns surrounding the land disputes and recognised the necessity for proactive measures to address the challenges at hand”, he stated.