Kpone, (GAR) Aug. 07, GNA -- Chiefs at Kpone in the Greater Accra Region who have been at loggerheads in chieftaincy disputes have pledged to reconcile and smoke the peace pipe to promote development. This was sealed with the signing of a memorandum of understanding in February 2004 in the Guggisberg Memorial Hall at Dodowa.

The reconciliation move was initiated by Nene Narteh Kannor, Chief of Kpone-Bawaleshie in collaboration with Ga-Dangme Council, which solved all the disputes. The settlement committee comprised Nii Adote Oboru II, Sempe Mantse, Professor Ablade Glover, chairman of Lands committee of the Ga-Dangme Council and Mr. Bright Akwetey Chairman, the legal committee of Ga Dangme. Launching the reconciliation at a durbar of chiefs and people of the area at Kpone on Friday, Mr. Nathaniel Tawiah Nortey, elder of the Kpone Traditional Council said after going through a series of litigation over the chieftancy disputes, the parties involved saw the need to come together in the interest of peace to develop their area.

He explained that the death of Nii Tei Dortey, paramount chief of Kpone in 1983 was followed by problems from the various clans as to who should be the successor and this dragged until 1989 when the present chief, Nii Tetteh Out II was enstooled.

Mr. Nortey said, realising the harm caused by the disputes, three royal clans out of the ten, namely Sanshi We, Kojo We, and Bediaku We agreed on various terms to pave way for restoration of peace, unity and harmony at Kpone. Among them was the withdrawal of chieftaincy cases in the courts, never to interfere in the enstoolment of chiefs and the building of a fitting palace for the paramountcy, while the stool room would be made accessible to the royal families.

In view of that, he said a unity durbar has been slated for August 20 to climax the peace process. Nii Tetteh Otu however, cautioned journalists to refrain from making inflammatory comments, which are likely to trigger a situation that would discourage people with good intentions to assist the area, to have a change of mind. Aug. 07 05