President Akufo-Addo exchanging pleasantries with the Paramount Chi ef of Chereponi
Barely 48 hours after President Akufo-Addo called for lasting peace between the Konkomba and Chokosi in the newly created North East Region, the two ethnic groups are said to have renewed hostilities.
Information reaching DAILY GUIDE indicates that five persons have been arrested in connection with the latest clashes.
The fight started on Sunday between the people of Nambiri Zongo, a Chokosi community and a Konkomba community called Tombo, both in the Saboba District over a piece of farm land.
According to the police, a group of Konkombas burnt down Koli, near Nambiri.
The inhabitants of Nambiri launched reprisal attack by burning Nanduni, the already devastated village of the Konkombas.
The Northern Regional Police Public Relations Office, DSP Mohammed Yussif Tanko, who confirmed the incident to DAILY GUIDE, said a joint military and police team moved to the village and intervened and relative calm has restored.
DSP Tanko said security patrols and monitoring in the affected communities have been intensified and that the five suspects arrested had weapons.
He said that 24 cartridges were retrieved from the suspects at Tambo on Saturday and two single-barrel guns and 49 cartridges were retrieved from other suspects on Sunday at Bonbaba.
In March 2019, three persons died as a result of the renewed clashes between the two tribes.
About 22 communities have been burnt completely in the clashes and over 2,000 people have been displaced.
Last Thursday, during his tour of the region, President Akufo-Addo said, “The Ghana that we are trying to build does not have space for conflict and violence. The seizure of lands by Konkombas and Anufors, we should try and stop those things. People have been farming for years, they know who farms on what land. We should try and bring those incidents to a conclusion. I am appealing to you for peace. Let peace remain here.”
He added that “there are lots of opportunities in Ghana now, but these opportunities will not be there if we continue all these unnecessary conflicts.”
He said Ghana is becoming prosperous with progressive people and the gains made so far would be meaningless if there is no peace.
From Eric Kombat, Chereponi