New Chokosi leader advocates unity, cohesion among northern tribes

Nana Akwasi Issah V, the newly appointed tribal leader of the Chokosi-Anufo Community in the Ashanti Region, has called for unity and harmony among all the northern tribes residing in the region.He said the peaceful coexistence of all tribal groups and collaboration would enhance progress of their respective areas.Modern societies, he said, thrive on development, rather than conflicts, hence the need for the youth to resist any attempt by politicians to manipulate them to engage in violent activities, especially during the upcoming elections.Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi, Nana Issah, a 51-year-old agricultural entrepreneur, said without unity and cohesion, development could not be achieved in the Zongo communities.He urged the Chokosi people in the Ashanti Region to continue to live in peace with all other tribes and avoid violence, especially in the upcoming elections.Nana Issah commended the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for allowing the Chokosi people to peacefully settle in Ashanti without intimidation or harassment and treating them as equal to all other tribes.Alhaji Musah Akambonga, the President of the Council of Zongo Chiefs, urged tribal chiefs to set aside their differences and prioritise peace and unity.Providing a brief historical background on the Chokosi, he explained that, the Chokosi people originated as a group of mercenaries who migrated from Cote d'Ivoire to assist the chiefs of two influential tribes in Ghana during the mid-1700s.The Chokosi people trace their heritage to a region in present-day Cote d'Ivoire known as Anou or Ano, hence their language being referred to as Anufo.They are predominantly found in Ghana, Benin, and Cote d'Ivoire.Source: Ghana News Agency