The Gbiniyiri Conflict Mediation Committee has paid a courtesy call on the King and Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, at the Jakpa Palace in Damongo, as part of its ongoing mission to foster dialogue and promote lasting peace in the Bole Traditional Area.
The committee, established by President John Dramani Mahama through the Ministry of the Interior, is tasked with mediating among the Gonjas, Brefo, and Lobi communities following recent violent clashes in Gbiniyiri.
Leading the delegation, Hon. Emmanuel Habuba Bombande, Chairman of the committee, clarified the group’s role, emphasizing that it is not a negotiation body but rather one focused on promoting dialogue, mutual respect, and understanding.
“Your Royal Highness, our real name should be the Dialogue Committee,” Hon. Bombande stated. “Our duty is to engage with all sides respectfully, promote conversation, and build trust. In our culture, we call that “Jirma” (respect) and without it, peace cannot prevail.”
He commended the Yagbonwura for his commitment to unity and praised early signs of normalcy returning to the affected areas, including the rebuilding of the Gbiniyiriwura’s Palace and the gradual reopening of markets.
Hon. Bombande also appealed for the continued leadership of the Yagbonwura, saying,
“We are here to beg for forgiveness, to listen and to ensure that what happened in Gbiniyiri never happens again. We will support your efforts to heal and rebuild this great kingdom.”
Responding on behalf of the Yagbonwura, the Paramount Chief of Mankpan Traditional Area, Mankpanwura Jakpa Achor-Ade Borenyi, expressed the Overlord’s appreciation for the visit and reiterated his dedication to peace.
“Even though conflict causes pain, a father swallows it for the sake of his children,” he said. “Our Overlord has demonstrated that he is a man of peace. The very fact that even some Lobi representatives could visit the palace today shows his open heart.”
Mankpanwura revealed that the Yagbonwura has directed his chiefs and youth leaders to draft by-laws that will guide coexistence between natives and settlers in Gonjaland. These regulations, he said, will soon be presented to the Regional Peace Council for formal adoption.
The President of the Gonjaland Youth Association, Mr. Alhassan Baba Darison, reaffirmed the youth’s commitment to peacebuilding, noting that most disputes arise from land ownership misunderstandings.
“We will not chase anyone from our land,” he said. “But those who settle must respect the rules. A log may stay long in water, but it does not become a crocodile.”
Adding to this, Chairman of the Yagbonwura’s By-laws Committee, Trodonpewura Abdallah Ahmed, revealed that draft rules have already been prepared for both Gbiniyiri and the wider Gonjaland area.
“These by-laws are not new,” he explained. “They are rooted in Gonja traditions dating back to the 1930s and align with Ghana’s constitution. Our goal is to institutionalize peace within the bounds of the law.”
The courtesy call ended with prayers for peace and unity, as both the mediation committee and the Gonja leadership pledged to work together in rebuilding trust, promoting dialogue, and ensuring that the Gbiniyiri conflict becomes a lasting lesson in reconciliation.
Source: Padfm.com.gh/Kumatey Gorden/0243531604
