Ho, April 3, GNA - Traditional beliefs about life after death hold deeper mysteries that should be taken seriously. Very Reverend Dr Livingstone Buama, Chairman of Nkonya-Alavanyo Peace Mediation Committee made the observation when briefing Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister about the Nkonya-Alavanyo peace process in Ho.

He said as part of the peace process it became necessary for both sides to perform pacification rites for those who died during the protracted bloody conflict. Very Reverend Buama, former Moderator of General Assembly of Evangelical Presbyterian Church said those rituals were practical realities that had to be accommodated within the process. He said the events that unfolded during the performance of one of those rituals prior to opening up a road between Nkonya Alavanyo were revealing and instructive.

Very Reverend Buama said the entire peace process had been one of openness and accommodation of even the most extreme positions on issues. He commended the people of Nkonya and Alavanyo for helping to establish a model for resolving seemingly intractable disputes, which had won local and international attention. Very Reverend Buama commended Mr Emmanuel Bombande, Executive Director of West Africa Network for Peace (WANEP) for helping tremendously in facilitating the process. Mr Amenowode expressed appreciation for developing a home-grown model for resolving disputes. He said it would be useful in resolving similar disputes especially the Peki-Tsito land conflict.