Mahama on Gbiniyiri Conflict: “Our Enemy Is Poverty, Not Each Other”
President John Dramani Mahama has described the violent clashes in Gbiniyiri, Savannah Region, as a deeply unfortunate tragedy and called for an end to the bloodshed.
Speaking at the Presidential Media Encounter in Accra yesterday, the President urged the people of the Savannah Region to put aside their differences and unite for the sake of peace and development.
“We need peace in Gonjaland, and we need peace to develop,” Mahama said. “Our common enemy is not each other—it is poverty. The Savannah Region remains one of the poorest in Ghana, and instead of fighting one another, we should be fighting poverty together.”
President Mahama expressed confidence in the newly formed seven-member mediation committee, tasked with resolving the conflict. He explained that the committee has been given full authority to engage both sides, carry out traditional purification rites, and make recommendations aimed at restoring peace and rebuilding relationships in the area.
The Gbiniyiri conflict, which erupted over a disputed parcel of land, has had devastating consequences: at least 31 people have lost their lives, over 50,000 residents have been displaced, and many others have suffered gunshot wounds. Entire homes and properties have been burned down in the chaos.
The situation has also spilled beyond Ghana’s borders. According to Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, more than 13,000 Ghanaians are currently seeking refuge in neighboring Côte d’Ivoire due to the ongoing violence.
As efforts to restore calm continue, Mahama reiterated his call for unity and understanding, reminding citizens that no development can occur without peace.
