The President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs, Togbega Gabusu VI has cautioned politicians who want to exploit ethnicity and tribal differences in the country to desist from such acts, which he noted will only create division among the people and retard development of the country.

Togbega Gabusu, who is also the paramount chief of Gbi traditional area noted that those actions should be considered as breeding grounds for tribal conflicts and added that politicians who engaged in these acts would leave the country when there was conflict because they have US and UK visa’s and poor Ghanaians, especially women and children would be left to suffer such consequences.

Togbega Gabusu gave the caution at the 11th annual Gbidukor festival of the chiefs and people of Peki and the Gbi traditional area at Peki-Tsiame last Saturday in the South – Dayi District of the Volta Region.

The traditional ruler described the recent verbal confrontation between the sitting president Mr. J. A. Kufuor and the former President J.J. Rawlings as a disgrace and embarrassment to the country, adding that they should demonstrate high level of statesmanship and exhibit high moral standards for the youth to emulate.

“The two Statesmen are my good friends and anybody who knows me knows that they are all my friends and what I am saying is true and in Ghana today they are the two main giants of our fledging democracy. Their actions and inactions greatly affect all of us”.

Togbega Gabusu observed that the continuous insults and counter reactions by the two distinguished personalities would not take the nation far because such acts would not help reduce poverty and enhance the standard of living of the ordinary Ghanaian.

He noted that the actions of the two main political parties and their leaders was rather dividing the people as well as destroying the democratic principles laid down and accepted by the people to be governed with in the country.

Togbega Gabusu said the current tension in the major political parties namely the NDC and the ruling NPP and their leaders was sending a bad signal to the youth, noting that the current rambling was clear indication of selfish agenda being persued by the leaders, which he described as unfortunate.

“I am making these utterances because when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. The grass I am referring to are the poor citizenry and what the leaders should be seen doing is to evolve strategies to help improve the living standards of the people and one of these men should act like Jesus in the name of peace”.

Togbega Gabusu noted that the blames and counter reactions would not bring the nation closer to its desire and ultimate objective of providing food, clothing, shelter good education and health to the people and advised that the two leaders should change their attitudes towards the people to ensure a united and peaceful nation.

He cautioned JAK and Jerry to stop behaving like hypocrites who were pretending that they did not know the needs of Ghanaians pointing out that apart from an improved economy Ghanaians would be pleased to see the issue of importation of illicit drugs into the country stopped and effective mechanism in place that would enable people to gather courage to expose these importers of drugs into the country without fear or favor.

“Please don’t let us pretend we do not know the people who deal in drugs because they live with us in our communities and we know them but people find it difficult to expose these people because their identities might be exposed”.

Togbega Gabusu who was fully charged about the conduct of the two national heads reminded them to always consider the interest of the nation and always reflect soberly on the contents of the National Pledge, which he started reciting and was supported by the crowd “I promise on my honour to be faithful and loyal to Ghana my motherland. I pledge myself in all things ….. This must be the guiding principle that our leaders must always keep in mind”.

Contributing, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli traditional area, Togbega Afede XIV called on Ghanaians to always seek the path of peace which he noted was crucial to the survival of any nation and described a recent utterances on a private radio station in Accra which referred to the Ewes as “evil people” and said such pronouncements would not foster peace and unity in the country.

He expressed concern about the poor state of many African countries, which he said has become a problem for the developed world. Togbega said the desire of the people to see their traditional leaders champion the cost of development would be meaningless if they failed to support chiefs in that direction.

Togbega Afede observed that the Gbidoku festival would not yield any positive result if the people of Peki and Awudome continue with conflict activities in relation to land dispute between the two traditional areas and charged the two paramount chiefs to put a stop to the hostilities and learn from Nkonya and Alavanyo people, who have amicably resolved the year-long dispute between them.

“Our nation is blessed: we have a lot of natural resources and very peace loving people but what future shall we leave for our children? We need to use the 50th independent anniversary celebration to reflect why we are not developing as a nation”.

Togbega Afede used the occasion to appeal to local political leaders to be accountable for their stewardship to the people and stressed the need for Ghanaians to gather courage to fight corruption that was diverting developmental resources into private pockets