The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osumanu Nuhu Sharubutu, has called for peaceful coexistence between the people of the Zongo communities in the Gbi Traditional Area in the Volta Region and the people of that traditional area. The call by the Chief Imam comes after clashes between the youth of the Moslem community in Hohoe and the Gbis on Monday which claimed three lives and caused extensive damage to individual and state properties. Expressing his deep regret and concerns over the incident, Sheikh Sharubutu said he had asked the people of the Moslem community to calm down to give peace a chance. The National Chief Imam made the call at a meeting with the Volta Regional Minister, the leaders of the Moslem community and the chiefs of the Gbi Traditional Area in Hohoe on Monday as part of efforts to broker peace between the people of the Zongo community and the people of Hohoe after Monday's clashes. Sheikh Sharubutu said as a member of the National Peace Council, he was an advocate of peace and was, therefore, prepared to play any role to ensure that peace was restored and prevailed forever. Speaking through his Public Relations Officer, Chief Baba Issa, the National Chief Imam likened the incident to challenges in the Bible and the Quran which, at the end of the day, turned into a blessing imbued by God or Allah. He, therefore, expressed the hope that the unfortunate incident would engender stronger relationships among the people of Hohoe. Sheikh Sharubutu said the incident should not be used to destroy the peace in the area and the country, since that had the potential to unleash more violence not only in Hohoe but also other parts of the country. Addressing the meeting, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Henry Ford Kamel, expressed regret at the incident and said President John Evans Atta Mills was deeply concerned about the violence. He, therefore, underscored the need for continuous dialogue to manage the situation well. He said dialogue was vital and essential in finding a lasting solution to the crisis, adding that a committee would be set up immediately to come up with recommendations as to how to resolve the problem. Mr Kamel asked the factions to allow state security agencies to do their work and appealed to the Gbi community to allow peace to prevail. He said it was a difficult moment in the lives of the people and pledged the commitment of the government to work together with the rest of the people to find a solution to the problem. A Divisional Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area, Togbe Keh, said the mayhem that occurred was a bitter pill to swallow but the message of the regional minister to them had softened their hearts. He said the incident was a big surprise to them because of the good relationship that had prevailed between the people of Hohoe and the Moslim community for a long time, adding that but for divine intervention, more tragic incidents could have occurred. Togbe Keh wondered why the Zongo elders allowed their youth to break loose to such an extent and that the rampage had punctured the existing peace between the two groups. For his part, the Chief of Gbi-Abansi, Togbe Adzima, said the people of Gbi did not bear any tribe or religious group any grudge, noting, however, that the extent of the rampage was too much for them to bear. He said even the police failed to arrest any culprit during the attacks but rather shot and killed a Gbi citizen without any provocation. Togbe Adzima also said the Moslem community had already breached the peace by violating the curfew hours, since they woke up at 4 a.m., instead of 6:00a.m., as permitted by law. He, therefore, called on the authorities to ensure that the policemen and military men stationed in the town conducted their affairs dispassionately. The Chief Imam was accompanied by the Volta Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Danjumah, while the Volta Regional Minister was accompanied by his deputy, Mr Henry Ametefe; the Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, Dr Margaret Kwara, and the Volta Regional Police Commander, Mr Alex Bedie. Meanwhile, the Matron of the Hohoe Government Hospital, Madam Patricia Azumatse, has confirmed that three out of the four injured persons who were admitted at the hospital died there. The Outpatients Department of the hospital was virtually empty as of the time the Daily Graphic visited, as many of the members of staff stayed away for fear of further attacks. The police are guarding the hospital.