Demands by the people of Gonjaland for the ban on small arms in their area to be lifted so they can protect themselves against Fulani herdsmen and armed robbers have been strongly opposed by the Northern Regional Police Command.
Communities in West, East and Central Gonja are insisting that they live in peace and should not be bundled with other communities in the Northern Region where armed violence and ethnic clashes are prevalent.
The police, on the other hand, disagree on the grounds that the peace is still fragile in the area.
The Finder’s investigations reveal that last week some representatives of communities including Sumpini, Janipe and Kojope went to the regional police to lament their insecurity due to their inability to license their guns for hunting game and protecting their flock.
The communities alleged that they were being harassed by Fulani herdsmen.
But the Northern Regional Police Commander, DCOP George Tuffour, has rejected the request and earlier pressure from the people of Gonjaland, fearing the potential outcome of such a decision.
Speaking to The Finder, the executive secretary of the Ghana National Commission on Small Arms, Mr Jones Applerh, said as much as the needs and concerns of the people of Gonjaland need to be addressed, a lift of the ban with barely months to go for general elections is a risk better averted.
“The ban should not be lifted now, certainly not before the election. [...] We should wait till after the election then we can have a dispassionate analysis of their request,” he said.
Mr Applerh expressed concern about the consequences if the issue is not handled well.
Source: The Finder
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