Konkombas and Bimobas in the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District of the Northern Region have resolved to coexist peacefully and not to fight one another over the ownership of a parcel of land at Kpemale
To this end, the two ethnic groups jointly performed a traditional ceremony dubbed: “Blood burial,” where they publicly slaughtered two goats, two dogs and a fowl, and buried them at Kpemale near Nakpanduri on Saturday to signify an end to the conflict in the area.
The Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) led by the Deputy Regional Minister, the Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, the Navrongo/Bolgatanga Diocese of the Catholic Church, the Pentecost Church, West Africa Network for Peace Building, the security services amongst other stakeholders brokered the peace deal between the two ethnic groups.
This is expected to end the conflict that had raged on for several years leading to loss of lives and property.
Speaking at the ceremony, Naba David Kansuk, Chief of Nakpanduri (Bimoba) said: “We are now one people with one destiny who are consciously striving together, dreaming great dreams, thinking great thoughts and working with relentless passions and efforts to translate our dreams and thoughts into realities.”
Naba Kansuk said: “I have no doubt that all manner of persons including the unborn in the area have reconciled, forgiven and forgotten all the agonies, tortures and wrongs meted out to one another and are now forging ahead with united minds and souls.”
He said: “I solemnly wish to assure my Konkomba brothers that our ancestral land remains habitable land for all persons irrespective of race, colour, religion, tribe, sex and political or economic status.
“We pledge to live…with our true brothers the Konkombas on the same roof of land and not to destroy the bond of unity that was forged by our grandfathers. We shall continue to light the flame of peace, unity and development in this land of ours.”
Nasuan-Rana Daniel Wajak, Chief of Nasuan (Konkomba) said: “Our main enemies are poverty and illiteracy and for that matter, we should stop fighting and rather come together to fight poverty and illiteracy in the district to give development a chance.”
Rana Wajak announced that whoever disturbs the peace in the area should be picked and dealt with as an individual rather than being identified as belonging to one ethnic group or the other.
He appealed to all those who bought sophisticated arms and ammunitions during the conflict to voluntarily hand them over to the security agencies to curtail the minor conflicts in the district and the country as a whole.
In a speech read on his behalf, Nayiri Mahami Bohagu Sheriga, Overlord of Mamprugu urged the chiefs and people of the area to hold on to the peace deal to promote the development of the area.
Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini, Deputy Regional Minister expressed joy at the end of conflict in the area, saying it marks a great and historic day not only for the people of the area but the country as a whole.
Alhaji Fuseini said government is creating numerous opportunities in various sectors for the benefit of all adding, with return of peace in the area, development and investment would be accelerated and increased.
He said the RCC would neither politicise crime nor make it a tribal issue and urged chiefs to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies to deal with miscreants in the society.
Mr Timothy Sampoa Laari, Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District Chief Executive urged all to be “like teeth and tongue” to collaborate in all things for the development of the area.
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