General News of Tuesday, 21 August 2007

Source: GNA

Osu Homowo would be peaceful - Stool Secretary

Accra, Aug 21, GNA - Osu Stool Secretary, Nii Akwei Nortey has assured the public of a peaceful Homowo Festival this afternoon saying, " so far as we are concerned there is no dispute in Osu."

"What are we fighting about? Nothing" he said and noted that the dispute about who was Osu Mantse was settled by a Supreme Court ruling on May 17, last year in favour of Nii Nortey Owuo III, the Osu Mantse. In an interview with the Ghana news Agency (GNA) in Accra on Tuesday before the take off of the festivities, Nii Nortey said the Mantse would do the symbolic sprinkling of the Kpokpoi as tradition demanded. The Stool Secretary said beyond the Supreme and Appeals Courts ruling all other avenues were limited and the only way out was to make trouble.

"We however don't expect any chaotic situation," he said, but noted that, "the police were on the alert in case of any eventuality." He said it was a shame that that, the "supposed dispute" had been overstretched adding, "we are ready to smoke the peace pipe with the aggrieved faction".

The Homowo festivities would be climaxed with a carnival and he called on the public to ensure that it was peaceful and violent-free.