By; Edwin Gogu
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Damongo, Most Rev. Peter Paul Angkyier, has appealed for peace and dialogue in the wake of the recent land-related conflict in Gbiniyiri in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region.
The Bishop made the call when he paid a courtesy visit to the Overlord of Gonja, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, at the historic Jakpa Palace in Damongo, on 29th August, 2025. His visit, he said, was both to sympathize with the Overlord following the passing of Alhaji Muniru Limuna and to express concern over the escalating tensions in Gbiniyiri, which have spread to parts of Sawla, Tuna, and Bole.
“This is a double difficult experience for us as a people,” Bishop Angkyier said. “We are mourning the loss of a great leader, and at the same time, we are faced with conflict that threatens our peace and development. Where there is no peace, development becomes very difficult. We are praying that all those involved will open their hearts to dialogue and work together for the restoration of peace.”
He lamented the social impact of the conflict, noting that teachers, nurses, and other essential workers had fled the affected communities, leaving families and livelihoods disrupted. The Bishop assured the Yagbonwura of the Church’s solidarity and continuous prayers, while urging leaders and community members to support mediation processes and cooperate with any committees set up to address the root causes of the dispute.
Responding on behalf of the Overlord, a spokesperson of the Yagbonwura acknowledged the Bishop’s concerns and reaffirmed the Yagbonwura’s unwavering commitment to ensuring lasting peace in Gonjaland. He cited the Overlord’s efforts in building cordial relations with neighboring kingdoms such as Dagbon and his interventions in past conflicts, including his peace initiative in Lokuula which has since restored calm there.
“The Yagbonwura has always stood for peace, and with the support of leaders like the Bishop, we will keep working to ensure that peace and unity prevail in Gonjaland.” Nevertheless, he welcomed the Bishop’s intervention and pledged to continue working tirelessly to restore calm.
The visit highlighted the shared responsibility of traditional and religious leaders in fostering reconciliation and underscored the need for collective efforts to safeguard peace in the Savannah Region, which remains vital for development and the well-being of its people.
