Alhaji Umar Farouk Saeed, the Zongo Chief of Kumasi has on behalf of the Zongo communities in Effiduase and Asokore sent an unqualified apology to President Mills for the troubles which recently hit the Sekyere East District. A similar apology was extended to the Ashanti Regional Minister, Kofi Poku Manu and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) both at the national level and in the Ashanti region by the Zongo traditional leader. Supporters and opponents of the area's DCE, Kwadvvo Addai in Effiduase and Asokore recently clashed and attempts by the Ashanti Regional Minister to bring peace to the area were foiled. Mr. Opoku Manu and his entourage including some leading members of the NDC in the region were nearly lynched by irate Zongo youth in the area, a development which was condemned widely in the media. Alhaji Farouk Saeed said the youth erred by taking the law into their hands to attack their regional minister expressing hope that the President and all those who were affected by the incident would accept his apology. He was speaking at a meeting held at the party's office at Asafo in Kumasi on Wednesday aimed at finding a lasting solution to the troubles at the Sekyere East District. In attendance were Mr. Opoku Manu, Joseph Yammin, NDC Ashanti Regional Secretary as well as Zongo Chiefs and Imams from Asokore and Effiduase. Alhaji Farouk Saeed promised to personally intervene so that lasting peace became the order of the day at Sekyere East, calling for total support from all stakeholders. In line with his peace mission, the Zongo Chief set up a seven-member committee made up of two people each from Al Sunna, Tijania and from the Zongo Chief's office as well as one person from the Regional Zongo Youth to work for peace to prevail in the area. Zongo chiefs in Asokore and Efflduase had earlier held discussions with the combating youth from the two communities in an attempt to encourage them to make peace. The newly established committee is expected to continue from where they have reached so far. In his succinct remarks, the regional minister accepted the apology and commended the commitment of the Zongo chiefs and leading members of the area to bring peace in the district. He however warned the youth to shun lawlessness and the destruction of property, reminding them that without peace there is no way that the community would experience development. Baba Sharrif, the Ashanti Regional Organizer of the NDC observed that fighting did not augur well for the transformation of the area and appealed to residents of the two communities to embrace peace at all times. Source Daily Guide