Communal violence that broke out between two farming communities near Mpaha in the Gonja Central district of the Savannah Region on Sunday, May 23,2021, has resulted in the death of at least one person.
According to reports, the clash between Kijasa and Lansupe also left at least three persons in critical conditions while many others, including a Police officer also sustained various degrees of injury.
The District Chief Executive for the area, Mustapha Mahama explained that the clash resulted from a spark in a long-standing land dispute between the two towns.
“There is a particular gravel pitch here where trucks go to fetch gravel and pay Ghc10 per truck but the followers of these two chiefs, Kasim of Kijasa and Yakubu for Lansupe clashed over who has the right to take proceeds from the truck drivers,” he said.
“So, when we got here, the situation on the ground was very bad and we needed the presence of the security. So, as we speak, both the police and military are here and the two towns are relatively calmed.”
The DCE who doubles as Chairman for the Central Gonja District Security Council further added that, “For now, things are getting better and we need to stay and ensure total sanity in the two towns.”