A Member of the Council of State representing the Volta Region, Gabriel Kwamiga Tanko Atokple, has appealed to feuding chiefs in the Weta Traditional Area to pursue lawful and peaceful means of resolving their differences rather than allowing their chieftaincy dispute to divide the community.

Speaking on Fafaa 100.3 FM’s Duamenefa programme hosted by Abaas Seidu, Mr Atokple addressed recent tensions that marred the Weta Morluza (Rice) Festival, where two rival chiefs allegedly held separate celebrations of what was meant to be a unified traditional event.

He clarified that two individuals are currently claiming the same paramount chieftaincy title, Torgbiga Akpo Ashiakpor VI. Out of the two, only one has been officially gazetted, while the other has yet to receive legal recognition.

Mr Atokple advised the claimant, who has not been gazetted, to seek redress through the courts if he believes he has a rightful claim to the stool, rather than inciting confusion and division within the traditional area. He stressed that Ghana is governed by laws, and any grievances over chieftaincy matters must be resolved through legitimate channels.

“The courts are there to ensure justice. If anyone feels wronged, the proper way is to seek redress lawfully — not through conflict or disunity,” he cautioned.

The Council of State member further urged both factions and their supporters to respect the authority of the gazetted chief until a court ruling determines otherwise. He reminded them that leadership should be defined by service, not by the pursuit of power.

Recounting a recent incident, Dr Atokple described as “very unfortunate and uncalled for” a situation in which a designated site for community work was deliberately obstructed by truckloads of sand. According to him, one of the chiefs had ordered ten trucks of sand to be dumped at the venue, halting community activities. He said he had to personally hire an excavator to clear the sand before work could continue.

He lamented that such acts of sabotage undermine development efforts and discourage potential partners. Some high-profile guests who had planned to attend the festival reportedly cancelled their participation after hearing about the conflict.

“While some of us are working hard to bring development and attract investors to Weta, others are fighting over titles, which only brings setbacks. We must fight for progress, not positions,” he said passionately.

Mr Atokple revealed that during the live broadcast, he had before him an official letter from the Volta Regional House of Chiefs in Ho, listing the recognised paramount chiefs in the Ketu North Municipality. He confirmed reading the letter on air but said he withheld the private names of the chiefs out of respect for traditional protocol.

In his concluding remarks, Mr Atokple reiterated his call for peace, urging all stakeholders to prioritise the community’s interest above personal ambition.

“We must understand that we are governed by laws. As traditional leaders and citizens, our duty is to respect those laws and work together for unity and development,” he emphasised.

He appealed to the people of Weta to remain calm, law-abiding, and development-focused as the rightful authorities address the matter through appropriate legal and traditional processes.