The Executive President of the Duamenefa Foundation, Mr. Ketaman Emmanuel Evortepe, has urged the public to learn how to control their anger, warning that uncontrolled anger can destroy relationships, families and communities.
He said this during the Duamenefa Social Intervention Programme aired on Fafaa 100.3 FM.
According to Mr. Evortepe, anger does not bring any good but rather has the potential to destroy things and create problems for individuals and their families.
He said anger may arise in the course of disagreements and difficult situations, but controlling it should be a matter of great importance to everyone.
Mr. Evortepe stressed that people must learn to manage their emotions and avoid taking decisions or actions while they are angry, as such actions could have serious consequences.
Making reference to a dispute case brought before the Foundation, he said anger was allegedly a factor that led to an individual invoking Voodoo powers against his own nephew.
According to him, the nephew’s son is allegedly experiencing what the family describes as spiritual attacks following the incident.
Mr. Evortepe used the case to caution the public against allowing anger to influence their actions, stressing that disagreements should not be allowed to develop into situations that could affect innocent family members.
He said people can become angry for various reasons, but the ability to control anger is what matters most when dealing with conflicts.
The Executive President encouraged individuals to exercise patience whenever they are provoked and to give themselves time to calm down before responding to situations.
He advised people involved in disputes to seek peaceful means of resolving their differences, including dialogue, mediation and the involvement of responsible community leaders where necessary.
Mr. Evortepe further appealed to parents, traditional leaders, religious leaders and other stakeholders to educate members of their communities on the dangers of uncontrolled anger and the importance of peaceful conflict resolution.
He noted that many conflicts that begin as minor disagreements can become serious when anger takes control of the people involved.
He further explained that anger, when not properly managed, can affect a person’s judgment and push them into taking actions they would not have considered under normal circumstances.
He therefore urged people to avoid making important decisions when they are emotionally charged and instead take time to calm down before responding to difficult situations.
Mr. Evortepe said people must understand that every action taken in anger can have consequences, some of which may be difficult to reverse.
He encouraged individuals to take a step back, reflect on the situation and consider peaceful ways of addressing whatever has caused the disagreement.
He also advised family members to avoid allowing misunderstandings to divide them, stressing that family disputes require patience, understanding and maturity from all parties involved.
According to him, forgiveness and dialogue should be encouraged whenever possible, particularly in situations involving relatives, friends and neighbours who have longstanding relationships.
The Executive President said the Foundation would continue to use its social intervention programmes to educate the public on issues affecting individuals, families and communities.
He encouraged anyone facing a dispute to seek the intervention of appropriate persons or institutions rather than resorting to actions that could escalate the situation.
Mr. Evortepe also called on community members to speak up when they notice conflicts escalating and help the parties involved to seek peaceful solutions before the situation gets out of hand.
He stressed that maintaining peace is a collective responsibility and urged everyone to contribute to creating communities where disagreements are settled through dialogue rather than anger, threats or harmful actions.
He reiterated that anger may come naturally, but controlling it is a choice and a responsibility. He urged everyone to make that choice in order to protect their lives, relationships, families and communities.
By Hutor Dziwornu, Fafaa 100.3 FM, Dzodze