Hot SourceThe conflict between the Gonja and Brifor communities in the Bole Traditional Area, appears to be edging towards resolution.
This follows last Friday’s arrest of one of the key individuals accused of inciting the Brifor community against the Gonjas through a series of inflammatory videos.
The suspect, Lebabourow Yotire Danah, was arrested and detained at Senya Bereku, a fishing community, in the Central Region by operatives of the National Investigation Bureau (NIB), where he had been hiding.
Mahama Haruna, General Manager of Nkilgi 103.7 FM in Bole, confirmed the arrest in a Facebook post on Friday, accompanied by a photograph of the suspect handcuffed and seated.
Unconfirmed reports also suggest that the prime suspect believed to have led the deadly assault at Gbiniyiri, which resulted in the gruesome killing of five Gonjas, may soon be apprehended.
The attack, which triggered the most recent wave of violence, led to multiple deaths, widespread destruction and mass displacement. Some victims have been forced to seek refuge in Côte d’Ivoire, where they are living in unsanitary conditions.
The arrests are being hailed as a significant step toward securing justice for the victims and restoring peace to the troubled area, which is known for its reputation for peaceful coexistence and intermarriages, amongst others.
“There are strong indications that the Gonja–Brifor conflict in the Bole Traditional Area is nearing its end,” Haruna, a journalist and prominent opinion leader in the Gonja community, stated.
“Today, one of the key individuals believed to have played a major role in inciting the Brifor community against the Gonjas through multiple inflammatory videos has been arrested in Senya Bereku in the Central Region”, Haruna’s post read.
“…unconfirmed reports suggest that the main suspect who led the deadly assault that resulted in the brutal killing of five Gonjas at Gbiniyiri is also expected to be arrested soon. These developments represent a significant step towards achieving justice and restoring peace in the region,” he stated.
At the start of the conflict, President Mahama announced measures to calm tensions in the Sawla-Bole area of Ghana’s Savannah Region following fresh clashes between the Gonja and Brifor communities.
A high-level delegation, led by the Minister of the Interior, was dispatched to the region to engage with traditional authorities and key stakeholders.
The Presidency said the initiative aims to restore peace and prevent further escalation of violence in the area.
Authorities are expected to provide updates as mediation efforts progress. The government has stepped in to ease fresh tensions between the Gonja and Brifor communities in the Sawla-Bole area of the Savannah Region.
Upon his return from a state visit to Singapore, the President received comprehensive briefings from the National Security Coordinator, COP Abdul-Osman Razak and the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohamed-Mubarak, on the deteriorating situation in the area.
Even while abroad, President Mahama, demonstrated his commitment to resolving the crisis by personally engaging with traditional leadership.
He held telephone discussions with the Yagbonwura, Jira Bikunuto Jewu Soale I, to explore immediate steps to end the conflict and restore harmony between the affected communities.
“The President’s direct engagement with the Yagbonwura underscores the government’s recognition of the crucial role traditional authorities play in conflict resolution,” said Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP and Spokesperson to the President.
As part of the comprehensive peace-building initiative, President Mahama dispatched a high-level government delegation to the region. The delegation, led by the Interior Minister, was tasked with meeting the Yagbonwura and other key stakeholders to facilitate dialogue and find lasting solutions.
The government also reinforced security in the area by deploying additional police and military personnel to maintain law and order while the peace talks proceeded.
President Mahama issued a strong appeal to all parties involved in the conflict to support the ongoing peace initiatives. He emphasized the importance of dialogue over confrontation in resolving the outstanding disputes that have strained relations between the two communities.
The President specifically directed the government delegation to work closely with the Regional Security Council, Traditional leaders from both communities, local community stakeholders, Civil society organizations and commit to Sustainable Peace.
The presidential directive emphasizes promoting dialogue as the primary mechanism for peacefully resolving disputes, while ensuring the restoration of normalcy to the affected areas.
“The government remains committed to upholding law and order while creating space for meaningful dialogue that addresses the root causes of this conflict,” Minister Kwakye Ofosu stated.
The Sawla-Bole intervention represents President Mahama’s administration’s proactive approach to conflict prevention and resolution, combining traditional governance structures with modern security and diplomatic mechanisms.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Sawla, Sinkina Saaka, appealed to sanitation agencies to provide mobile latrines for displaced Gbinyiri residents currently being sheltered at the Sawla District Police Headquarters in the Savannah Region.
Speaking to Citi News, he explained that the lack of proper toilet facilities has forced the displaced persons to resort to open defecation.
“There is no place of convenience here. All over the place is littered with human excreta. There is a need for us to get at least a mobile toilet facility so that the people here can easily ease themselves,” he lamented.
The Sawla DCE also called for urgent health support from the Ghana Health Service, stressing the importance of deploying health workers to attend to the displaced individuals.
“We want to contact the Ghana Health Service and the District Hospital to provide health services to the people here. It will go a long way to help us. We are even lucky that it has not rained, else it would have been a very bad situation,” he added.
President Mahama took immediate action to address escalating tensions in the Sawla-Bole area of the Savannah Region, engaging traditional authorities and deploying government resources to restore peace between the feuding Gonja and Brifor communities.
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