The Ghana Red Cross Society has erected a temporary tent at the Sawla District Police Headquarters to provide shelter for women and children fleeing the recent wave of violent clashes in Gbiniyiri and adjoining communities in the Savannah Region.
The clashes, which erupted from a protracted land dispute between the Gonja and Brifo communities, have left six people dead and 18 others injured since Sunday, August 24. Hundreds of families, many of them women and children, have abandoned their homes, trekking long distances to seek safety under the protection of the Ghana Police Service.
According to security sources, the violence began on Sunday when five people were killed in fighting linked to the disputed sale of land allegedly involving the Gbiniyiri Chief.
Tensions escalated the following morning when another victim was shot dead, bringing the death toll to six. Several of the injured are said to be in critical condition with gunshot and machete wounds.
The crisis worsened on Tuesday, August 26, when the Chief’s Palace in Gbiniyiri was set ablaze, heightening fears of retaliatory attacks and a possible spread of the conflict to other parts of the district. Residents reported that houses and farmlands have been destroyed, forcing families to flee with little more than the clothes on their backs.
“The situation is dire. People are traumatized, and many have lost their homes and livelihoods. Our priority is to ensure women and children have a safe place to stay while the conflict is being addressed,” a Ghana Red Cross official said.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), who visited the area earlier this week, assured displaced residents that security agencies are working to restore calm. A joint police-military task force has been deployed, though security operatives admit the scattered nature of the settlements makes patrols difficult.
Meanwhile, the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District Security Council (DISEC), in collaboration with the Savannah Regional Security Council, is holding mediation talks with traditional leaders from both factions to prevent further bloodshed. Local authorities have appealed to community members to embrace dialogue and restraint while security interventions continue.
Humanitarian efforts are also being stepped up. The Ghana Red Cross has pledged to provide food, water, and basic relief items to displaced families, while appealing for public and donor support.
Civil society groups in the region are also calling on government to expedite peace-building initiatives and address the underlying land ownership disputes that have fueled recurring conflicts in Gbiniyiri and surrounding communities.
Analysts say the clashes underscore the persistent challenge of land disputes in northern Ghana, which often escalate into deadly confrontations between ethnic groups.
Calls have been renewed for long-term interventions, including land registration reforms and stronger community conflict resolution structures, to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
