Hohoe Stalemate Far From Over

Despite the extension of the dusk-to-dawn curfew from 12:00 midnight to 5:00am, signals from Hohoe indicate that the stalemate is far from over. A DAILY GUIDE investigation revealed that although many of the Zongo people who left Hohoe had returned, their activities had been restricted to the Zongo area until the indigenes spelt out the new conditions of their in the town. Most of them said they were sitting on tenterhooks as they awaited the conditions to be spelt out to them by their landlords. Although the situation is affecting the economic lives of the Zongo people and their children, they said that they had no choice than to wait until there was a concrete solution to the misunderstanding between them and their landlords. A tour of the town revealed that Zongo women who used to sell Hausa koko, waakye and other delicacies were unable to go to their shops. Taxis owned by members of the Zongo community were mostly patronized by members of the Zongo community as the indigenes had refused to employ their services. Also, Zongo women who used to sell in the market could only go there to buy and not sell. Another affected commodity is fresh meat, which used to be mainly sold by butchers from the Zongo community. Shop owners from the Zongo community who had shops in the town could not assess their shops. Zongo drivers of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in Hohoe were also not working due to the situation. Mechanics that had their shops in town had also restricted their services to the Zongo area. Unfortunately, some indigenes and other settlers who patronized and enjoyed the services of the Zongo people also lamented about the effect the situation was having on their lives. They noted that most of them had to frequent the Zongo areas to assess fresh meat, waakye, hausa porridge and the like. When contacted, the Hohoe Zongo Chief, Alhaji Tajudin Meriga, confirmed the development and added that �we have talked to our Muslim brothers in Kpando so that is where we bury our dead.� He noted that although they were yet to receive the conditions of habitation by the Gbi council, rumours among the indigenes suggested that they should restrict their movements and activities to the Zongo areas. As a result, they had also advised their members as such to help deepen the peace process. Alhaji Meriga explained that a directive from the District Security Committee (DISEC) noted that the shops affected by the rampage should not be tampered with for investigative purposes. He said that fortunately, the basic schools that were closed down had all been opened so their kids could go to school. He expressed remorse for what happened and was hopeful that lasting peace would return to Hohoe. Meanwhile, sources close to the Gbi Council indicated that the conditions to be given to the Zongo community would be made public very soon. The sources noted that the Zongo community were still not allowed to bury their dead in Hohoe. They would also be restricted from farming on Gbi lands. When Togbe Adzima, the spokesperson for the Gbi council was contacted on the conditions and the restriction of the Zongo community, he declined to comment. He lamented about erroneous reportage in the media about the situation in Hohoe and urged the media to be circumspect in their reportage. He specifically mentioned a report that the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, headed by Togbe Afede, had promised to replace Togbega Gabusu�s missing regalia. He said there was no such promise by the Regional House of Chiefs. In a related development, other settlers in Hohoe have also expressed concern about the fact that the Gbi council was not seeking their views on the conditions to be set. They noted that when the Zongo youth started the rampage, they supported the Gbis in stopping them from causing more damage. They therefore expressed the fear that the conditions might affect them too and appealed that they should also be considered in the final outcome of the settlement.