Ho, June 11, GNA - The Right Reverend Francis Anani Lodonu, has slammed road works supervisory bodies in the Volta Region for failing to ensure that the major link road connecting Alavanyo-Nkonya communities was constructed on schedule.

The road, designated as "Jubilee Road", from Gbi-Wegbe through Alavanyo both in the Hohoe to Nkonya-Tayi in the newly created Biakoye district, is intended to celebrate the strides in resolving the decades old land dispute between the Nkonya and Alavanyo neighbours. Bishop Lodonu, who is Bishop of the Ho Diocese of the Catholic Church, said his understanding was that the job had been contracted and money for it provided, but wondered why it had still not been done. He said if the impression that projects in the Volta Region were often stalled by local officials of implementing agencies was correct, then it was a damning trend which must stop. Bishop Lodonu was addressing a three-day workshop on "Gender and Active Non-Violence" in Ho for selected youth and women leaders from the Nkonya and Alavanyo communities.

It sought to help women and the youth in the two communities to rebuild their lives. He said the Jubilee Road should have been in place by now to consolidate the symbolic clearing of the road connecting the two communities which was closed for a long time following the conflict between them. Bishop Lodonu urged participants to sustain the work of the Joint Consultative Committee on the Alavanyo-Nkonya Conflict, by strengthening the resolve by the youth of the former bickering neighbours that there would be no more war. He recalled the heady days when the frosty relations between them resulted in armed clashes which prompted an initiative by the clergy in 2005.

This attracted government support resulting in the setting up of a peace committee to initiate dialogue between the feuding communities. The Africa Desk of the Women Peacemakers Programme (WPP) an NGO in collaboration with the Ho Diocese of the Catholic Church sponsored the workshop, which took participants through communication skills, conflict analysis, human rights and leadership skills. Rev Sister Rejoice Sedegah, Director of the Social Works Department of the Ho Catholic Diocese expressed joy that the Nkonya-Alavanyo conflict resolution process was now a reference point for conflict resolution experts all over the world. She said the past animosities, hatred and dislocated social relationships in that area should be enough counsel for others to learn from.

Miss Modesta Anny Sapati, Deputy Volta Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) suggested that intermarriage be promoted among the two sides to deepen the renewed solidarity between them. Mrs Joana Opare, a Consultant on Gender Issues said the involvement of African women in peace building initiatives and at the negotiation table could reduce the incidence of violent conflicts on the continent. Mr Ransford Ocloo, Volta Regional Coordinator of the National Youth Council (NTC) in a solidarity message said violence could not supplant consensus building in all relationships, while Madam Dora Alipui, Women's Organizer of the Ho Catholic Diocese appealed for programmes to build the capacities of women on social and economic issues.