Tem Kotokoli has urged the public to disregard claims made by the Akyode ethnic group that, the Kotokoli’s were involved in a violent broad day light clash in the Nkwanta South Municipality in the Oti Region.
Addressing the media at the Ghana International Press Center on Friday, December 22, they stated that, Tem Kotokoli ethnic group are noted as peaceful and law abiding not violent as the Akyoade’s stated during a Press Conference in October 2021 and November 2023.
“The page 3 of the Akyode press conference carried the heading: Violent Protests and Attacks by Adeles, Challas and Kotokoli on Akyode in October 2021.
The first sentence under the heading in paragraph two (2) above states and I quote: “Prior to the 2021 celebrations, Adeles, Kotokoli and Challas marched on the streets of Nkwanta in broad daylight with offensive weapons and chanting war songs in protest against the celebration of our festival (evidence available).
The town was plunged into a state of insecurity.
An Akyode young man by Name Joshua was stabbed (and eventually died) in the presence of the Municipal Commander of Police, Chief Superintendent, Lawson at the English and Arabic school park by one antagonistic youth of the joint Adele-Challa and Kotokoli gang (Evidence available).
This attracted the attention of the Oti Regional Security Council, REGSEC.
REGSEC, after a meeting with the three tribes to hear their case, found the allegations proposed by the belligerent Adeles, Challas and Kotokolis as the basis for the protest untenable, and directed that the festival could be celebrated.
Nevertheless, the celebration was cancelled to give peace a chance.”
Pages 8 and 9 of the Akyode press conference in accusing the New Patriotic Party (NPP), rhetorically asked: “Is it not shameful that the party we have stood for in good and bad times cannot even protect us from the attack of well-armed land guards working”, he said.
According to the Amankrado for Kue Nkwanta South, Wuro Ateku Sakibi, accusations made by the Akyode ethnic group is blantantly lie and without bases because they have a good relationship with them(Akyode) over the years.
“The accusation of the Kotokolis of being complicit in the recent clashes by the Atwode is blatantly false; this accusation is without any scintilla of evidence. It is purely based on hatred simply because the Kotokolis live peacefully with the Adeles and the Challas. This is a good thing to do. The Kotokolis have no problems with the Akyode ; they have lived peacefully over the years with them as well, and this should continue to define our relationship in the municipality”, he added.
He reiterated that, the Kotokoli group needs an apology from the Akyode ethnic group for defaming them over an incident which as rather affected some of their members.
“We demand an unqualified apology from the Akyode for the erroneous impression they have created in the minds of well-meaning Ghanaians by portraying the Kotokolis in a very negative way.
If they decide not to render an apology to the Kotokolis we will have no qualms with them.
But it should be the last time they will kill a Kotokoli as they did to Alhassan Tijani and many others who have been wounded or such as Aminu Ibrahim”, portion of the release stated.
The Amankrado for Kue Nkwanta South, Wuro Ateku Sakibi stressed that, the Kotokolis have a constitutional right to defend themselves if they are violently attacked by any ethnic group in Nkwanta.
Now the Kotokolis know that the killing of their tribesmen by the Akyode were deliberate orchestrated and executed.
The Kotokolis will continue to advise the Akyode to be law-abiding and eschew all acts of aggression.
It will be in their interests and the interest of all to be law-abiding and peaceful.
“A full-scale investigation into the perennial violent acts perpetrated at Nkwanta in recent times so that people who killed, maimed, caused destruction to shops and other properties are brought to justice.
This is one of the surest ways of getting the conflict properly addressed”, he noted.