Konkombas, Bimobas seek peace
The Konkombas and the Bimobas of the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo in the Northern Region, on Thursday began a two-day dialogue meeting in Tamale.
It is aimed at finding lasting solutions to the protracted conflict between the two ethnic groups over land at Kpemale, a farming community.
The West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP-Ghana) was facilitating the peace process, which brought together opinion leaders, including chiefs of the feuding factions and District Chief Executives of Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo and East Mamprusi.
The Bimobas and the Konkombas have had an age-long conflict, which has created mistrust and ill-feelings among them resulting in violent confrontations leading to loss of lives and properties.
Mr. Emmanuel Bombande, Executive Director of WANEP, urged the heads of the two factions to demonstrate good leadership role by committing themselves fully to the peace process and to respect each other’s opinion and avoid the blame game.
He noted that peace could only be achieved when the people themselves were committed to the process, saying that “nobody can bring peace except you”.
Mr Bombande assured the people about the readiness of all stakeholders including the police to find lasting peace.
He said the two factions were related and had inter-married themselves and there was no reason for them fight adding that their presence at the meeting was a remarkable achievement.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Ken Yeboah, the Northern Regional Police Commander, said that conflict prevention was much cheaper than conflict resolution adding that the state had spent so much money in ensuring peace at Kpemale.
Mr. Bede Ziedeng, Northern Regional Minister, commended the Bimobas and Konkombas for deciding to end the protracted conflict, and urged all other ethnic groups with conflicts to work towards attaining peace.
He said the conflict in the area had slowed down development, brought untold hardships to people and affected the educational system to the extent that some students had relocated while some teachers had abandoned the area.
Mr. Ziedeng advised the people to give peace the chance to enable government to address the developmental needs of the people.
Most Reverend Vincent Boi-Nai, Bishop of Yendi Diocese of the Catholic Church and Executive Committee Member of WANEP-Ghana, called for effective communication in resolving conflicts.
Source: GNA