The people of Anlo in the Volta Region are seriously considering a return to an age-long tradition of executing people who are deemed to be disrespectful or have flouted laws in the area.

They are worried about the growing crime and indiscipline in the area and are contemplating a return to a system of "Torkor Atorlia" or the "Fifth Landing" punitive measure which was quite popular in the pre-colonial era.

In Torkor Atorlia, perpetrators of crimes are buried alive from their toes to their necks with their heads left for birds and other wild animals to prey on.

The operation is usually undertaken by warlords in the vicinity.

In narrating the procedures involved in the execution process, the Special Assistant to the Awormefia,  Agbotadua   Boni,  said parents were the key people who handed over their children to the warlords for the punishment. 

He said the family system was unique hence any child who tarnished the image of their family faced the consequences of their action.

"You will be buried alive. You will be buried up to your neck while you are alive so that crows will come and poke [out] your eyes when you are dead. That put a lot of fear in the youth so that they won't misbehave," he said.

Crude as it may be, some residents believe it is the surest way to bring sanity in the area.

As to whether the system can be welcomed back, Kafui  Ahorlu, a resident in sharing his views said, bringing back the system is not important, but rather  authorities need to make sure the byelaws of the localities must be implemented.

"In this dispensation, we don't need Torkor Atorlia but then we rather need a collaborative effort from the traditional authorities to stamp their foot on disrespect," he said.

But Agbotadua Boni, has a different view: "I feel Torkor Atorlia should still come back to bring some discipline into the very fabric of the society."

So the question is, should Torkor Atorlia be brought back into the system?  Will the Human Right activists endorse this?  The central point is, discipline should be the main aim of every society to bring sanity and order in our communities.