The Duamenefa Foundation has urged the public to desist from using spiritual means to resolve disputes, calling instead for peaceful dialogue, mediation and lawful approaches to conflict resolution.
The Executive President of the Foundation, Mr. Ketaman Emmanuel Evortepe, made the call on the airwaves of Fafaa 100.3 FM during the Foundation’s social intervention programme.
According to Mr. Evortepe, various petitions received by the Foundation indicate that some individuals resort to invoking deities whenever disputes arise between them. He described the practice as inappropriate and potentially harmful, stressing that such actions should be stopped immediately.
He said disputes involving family members, friends, business partners, neighbours and other members of society should be handled through dialogue and peaceful negotiation rather than through spiritual practices.
Mr. Evortepe explained that the Foundation’s concern is not only about resolving individual disputes but also about promoting peace, unity and social stability within communities.
He said one of the cases that prompted the Foundation to intensify its message was a petition received from Fiato-Gamakorpe in the Akatsi South Municipality of the Volta Region.
According to the petition, a dispute allegedly arose between Mr. Ahiagba Fauster and his nephew, Mr. Robert Dotsey, over a “work-and-pay” vehicle which Mr. Ahiagba had purchased for Mr. Dotsey to use for commercial purposes.
The Foundation indicated that a misunderstanding subsequently developed between the two parties. It was alleged that Mr. Ahiagba invoked deities following the disagreement, after which Mr. Dotsey’s son reportedly suffered from a strange illness.
Mr. Evortepe stressed that allegations of this nature demonstrate the need for individuals and communities to adopt peaceful mechanisms for resolving disputes before they escalate.
He said when disagreements are allowed to deteriorate, innocent family members and other people who are not directly involved may also be affected.
The Executive President therefore encouraged individuals who find themselves in disputes to first seek dialogue and, where necessary, involve respected elders, traditional authorities, religious leaders, professional mediators or the appropriate legal institutions.
He also appealed to parents and community leaders to educate young people on peaceful conflict resolution and discourage them from taking actions that could deepen disagreements.
Mr. Evortepe noted that the Foundation remains committed to receiving petitions from members of the public and helping parties involved in disputes to explore peaceful solutions.
He said the Foundation’s social intervention programmes are intended to give members of the public an opportunity to bring their concerns to the attention of relevant stakeholders and seek assistance in addressing challenges affecting their families and communities.
He further urged people to exercise restraint whenever they have disagreements and avoid taking decisions in anger.
According to him, resolving disputes peacefully can help preserve family relationships, protect community harmony and prevent disagreements from turning into prolonged conflicts.
Mr. Evortepe called on all parties involved in disputes to respect one another and give dialogue a chance before considering other lawful options.
He reiterated that no disagreement should be allowed to result in actions that could endanger the wellbeing of individuals or create fear within communities.
He concluded by encouraging the public to make use of peaceful and lawful avenues available to them whenever conflicts arise, assuring listeners that the Duamenefa Foundation would continue to advocate for peace, responsible community living and peaceful resolution of disputes.
By Hutor Dziwornu, Fafaa 100.3 FM, Dzodze