The Minister of Interior, Mark Woyongo has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on the Alavanyo and Nkonya towns in the Volta region.

The neighbouring towns have been locked in a dispute over land for years and have had curfews imposed on them in the past.

Tensions were heightened in June after residents in Nkonya reportedly fired shots into Alavanyo, prompting fears of further clashes which were eventually averted through the intervention of the chiefs.

A press statement issued by the Minister of Interior, Mark Woyongo noted that the curfew will start from 8pm and end at 5am.

It further urged the chiefs to use established mechanisms for the resolution of all conflicts and disputes in both towns.

“Government continues to express its appreciation to the Chiefs, Elders, Opinion Leaders, Youth and people of the area for their efforts in ensuring peace in the area and urges them to use the established mechanisms for the resolution of all their conflicts and disputes,” the statement indicated.

Meanwhile, government has banned residents in both communities  from carrying arms, ammunition or any offensive weapon.

Read the full statement below:

"The Minister of the Interior has on the advice of the Volta Regional Security Council and by the Executive Instrument renewed the Curfew imposed on Alavanyo and Nkonya Townships with effect from Friday 29^th August, 2014.

"The curfew hours remain from 8:00pm to 5:00 am.

"Government continues to express its appreciation to the Chiefs, Elders, Opinion Leaders, Youth and people of the area for their efforts in ensuring peace in the area and urges them to use the established mechanisms for the resolution of all their conflicts and disputes.

"Meanwhile, Government will like to reiterate that, there is a ban on all persons in the two towns and its environs from carrying arms, ammunition or any offensive weapon, and any person found with any arms or ammunition will be arrested and prosecuted."