Government To Build Military Base In Alavanyo and Nkonya � Veep

Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur,� has hinted that� government intends to build a permanent military base in the disputed area of Alavanyo and Nkonya in the Volta Region. ������He said the base would continue to offer training to the military personnel who would be stationed at the place. ��������He expressed the hope that the resources would be found in this year�s budget to begin� the construction of� permanent structures in the zone. ������Vice President Amissah-Arthur announced this when he visited the Military and Police personnel stationed at both Alavanyo and Nkonya sides of the disputed area. ��������In December last year, there were renewed clashes following gunshots that left one person dead. The violence in the two communities has persisted for years,� despite several mediation attempts. ��������Vice President Amissah-Arthur also announced that� government is also working with other prominent chiefs in the area to find a lasting solution to the decade-old conflict over the disputed land. ��������He said Togbe Dagadu the Eighth,� Paramount Chief of Kpando,� has offered to initiate a process of consultation and mediation, and expressed the confidence that it would succeed. ��������He said Togbe Dagadu has been given some few weeks to start his mediation effort, and to ensure that there is peace in the area. ��������Vice President Amissah-Arthur commended the military and� police personnel stationed in the area for their hard work, and urged them to be neutral in the dispute. ���������He said� people from the two communities have lived together for a long time, and because they have inter-married,� it is almost difficult to separate them because they belong to both sides. ���������Brigadier-General Adeti, General Officer Commanding the Southern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, welcomed the move by government to build permanent structures for the military in the area. ����������He said despite the fact that� most of the military personnel were currently staying in people�s houses within the community,� they would ensure that the close interaction and fraternization between the military and the people were reduced, to enhance their neutrality in the dispute.