A development advocate and youth activist in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region, Solomon TTB Zenakena, has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene in the escalating tensions between residents of Gbane and Namoulog following a clash at a mining site in Gbane.
He has also called on the two communities to lay down their weapons, exercise restraint and pursue dialogue to resolve their differences over a land dispute currently before the courts.
Speaking on A1 Radio, Mr. Zenakena said the situation threatened the longstanding relationships between the two communities, which he noted were bound by family ties, intermarriages, shared traditions and common social institutions.
He said residents of Gbane and Namoulog were deeply interconnected, making continued violence detrimental to both communities and the wider Talensi area.
“We are not enemies. We are brothers. We are sisters. We are mothers, and we are fathers. We share the same market. We share the same tradition. We share the same culture. We share the same hospital, the same school, the same workplaces, the same farms and the same land,” he said.
He explained that the dispute between the two communities had been before the courts for several years without violence, but recent events had heightened tensions.
Although acknowledging the role of the courts in resolving disputes, he urged traditional authorities and opinion leaders in neighbouring communities to facilitate dialogue between the factions.
He specifically called on leaders from communities including Sheega, Sawalga, Tindongo, Duusi, Kpatia and Yamerega to engage the two sides and help restore peace.
“The court may resolve the matter, but will it be peaceful? The court may resolve the matter, but will every faction be okay with it? That is why the court is always the last resort,” he said.
He stressed that the immediate priority should be to stop the violence, adding that other disagreements could be addressed through dialogue once peace had been restored.
Mr. Zenakena also appealed to the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC), the District Security Council (DISEC) in Talensi and the National Security Council to strengthen security in the affected communities.
He said people he had spoken to on the ground had raised concerns about the visibility of security personnel, urging the police and military to intensify patrols and protect lives and property.
He called on security agencies to remain professional, impartial and firm in dealing with both sides.
“I want them to be fair. I want them to be firm. I want them to defend the land. I want them to protect lives. I want them to protect property,” he said.
The activist warned that delays in responding to the situation could make it more difficult to contain, urging authorities to act before further harm was recorded.
Mr. Zenakena said the effects of the conflict were already being felt beyond the two communities, citing disruptions to economic and social activities.
He recalled that violence on a Sunday that coincided with Tindongo market day prevented normal market activities, while health workers were reportedly forced to flee and schools faced disruption.
He said the situation was affecting residents regardless of whether they identified with Gbane or Namoulog.
“The houses that we are burning today are not for anybody. They belong to us. The blood that may be shed today is not anybody’s blood. It’s our blood,” he said.
He urged residents to reject revenge and consider the welfare of children, mothers and vulnerable people whose lives were being affected by the unrest.
Mr. Zenakena reiterated that Talensi had long been associated with peace and stability and called on traditional leaders, security agencies and other stakeholders to work together to restore calm.
He said dialogue, forgiveness and collaboration remained essential to resolving the dispute and preventing further violence.
A1 Radio | 101.1Mhz | Joshua Asaah
