President John Dramani Mahama has moved swiftly to ease fresh tensions between the Gonja and Brifor communities in the Sawla-Bole area of the Savannah Region, following reports of renewed clashes.
The President, who had just returned from a state visit to Singapore, was immediately briefed by the National Security Coordinator and the Minister for the Interior on the volatile situation.
While abroad, he also engaged the Yagbonwura, Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, Jira Bikunuto Jewu Soale I, in a telephone conversation to explore sustainable measures for peace and reconciliation.
To de-escalate the conflict, President Mahama has dispatched a high-powered Interior Ministry-led delegation headed by former Majority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mohamed-Mubarak, to hold direct consultations with the Yagbonwura, regional security council, traditional leaders, and community actors.
The delegation has been tasked to foster dialogue, mediate outstanding grievances, and ensure a framework for lasting coexistence between the two groups.
Security has also been reinforced, with additional police and military personnel deployed to restore calm and prevent further violence.
In a statement from the Presidency, President Mahama appealed to both sides to cooperate fully with government-led peace efforts, stressing that violence only deepens mistrust and undermines development in the area.
He further assured residents that government remains resolute in protecting lives and property while promoting law, order, and harmony among all ethnic groups.
The Gonja-Brifor tensions, which have flared periodically over land ownership and chieftaincy disputes, have often disrupted livelihoods and displaced families in the Savannah Region.
