COTA moves to tackle insecurity, leadership disputes in Teshie

THE Coalition of Teshie Associations (COTA) has announced plans to address longstanding leadership disputes and security concerns in the Teshie community while promoting peace and youth empowerment ahead of the 2026 Homowo Festival.

The coalition said the initiative formed part of efforts to foster unity among the five quarters of Teshie, namely Kle Musum, Lenshie, Agbawe, Krobo, and Gbugbla.

The announcement was made during a unity walk, organised in collaboration with COTA and Laboma Beach Resort, on Saturday in Accra. The event was sponsored by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Resort, Dr Albert Tetteh Kwarshie Botchway.

More than 2,000 participants joined the walk through the principal streets of Teshie, starting from the Laboma Beach Resort, to promote peace and highlight the need for harmony within the community.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Botchway said peace among the youth was essential for the development of the community. He noted that when young people embraced peace, it creates an enabling environment for development and improved social interventions in the area.

He also indicated that several activities had been planned to promote unity and harmony in the community ahead of the Homowo Festival in August 2026. These would include indoor and outdoor games, competitive sports among community groups, and weekly peace messages broadcast through the public address system.

In his remarks, the Chairman of COTA, Alfred Amarh Lienks, explained that the leadership disagreements among the various quarters had in the past created uncertainty for investors and organisations seeking to support development in Teshie. He, however, stated that the situation was not driven by ill intent but rather by the desire of different leaders to see development in the community.

According to him, the coalition was working to strengthen coordination among community leaders to create a more unified front for development initiatives. To address the situation, he revealed that the coalition was establishing a task force that would be stationed at key junctions in the community to enhance security and protect both residents and ride-hailing drivers.

Meanwhile, the Kpeshie Divisional Commander, ACP Emmanuel Odonkor Baah, urged the youth to stay away from violent activities and support efforts to maintain peace in the community.

By Stephanie Birikorang