The Gbiniyiri Conflict Mediation Committee has met with Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale (I) at the Jakpa Palace in Damongo as part of efforts to restore lasting peace in the Bole-Sawla area.
The engagement with the Yagbonwura on Friday 7th November, 2025 is seen as a key step in fostering reconciliation among the affected communities in Gonjaland.
The 7-member committee, set up by the Ministry of the Interior, is tasked with investigating the causes of the conflict, supporting the return of displaced persons, and recommending long-term peace solutions.
The Chairman of the Committee, Mr Emmanuel Habuka Bombande speaking at the Jakpa Palace, clarified the group’s mandate, explaining that it is not a negotiation body but one focused on encouraging dialogue, mutual respect, and understanding.
He stated;
“Your Royal Highness, our real name should be the Dialogue Committee”
Emmanuel Habuka Bombande added that; “Our duty is to engage all sides respectfully, promote conversation, and build trust. In our culture, we call that Jirma—respect—and without it, peace cannot prevail.”
He commended the Yagbonwura for his leadership and commitment to unity and acknowledged that early signs of normalcy is returning to Gbiniyiri and that includes the rebuilding of the Gbiniyiriwura’s Palace and the gradual reopening of markets in the area.
The Chairman of the Gbiniyiri conflict Mediation Committee appealed for the continued guidance of the Overlord in the reconciliation process.
He said;
“We are here to beg for forgiveness, to listen, and to ensure that what happened in Gbiniyiri never happens again. We will support your efforts to heal and rebuild this great kingdom”.
The President of the Gonjaland Youth Association, Mr. Alhassan Baba Darison, reaffirmed the youth’s dedication to peacebuilding, stressing that many conflicts stem from land ownership misunderstandings.
He said;
“We will not chase anyone from our land,” he said. “But those who settle must respect the rules. A log may stay long in water, but it does not become a crocodile.”
The Chairman of the Yagbonwura’s By-laws Committee, Chief Tolondonpewura Abdallah Ahmed Monor also in a short speech briefed the committee that a draft by-laws have been prepared for Gbiniyiri and the wider Gonjaland area.
He stated; “These by-laws are not new” adding “They are rooted in Gonja traditions dating back to the 1930s and align with Ghana’s constitution. Our goal is to institutionalize peace within the bounds of the law.”
Speaking on behalf of the Yagbonwura, the Paramount Chief of the Mankpan Traditional Area, Mankpanwura Jakpa Achor-Ade Borenyi, expressed the Yagbonwura’s appreciation for the committee’s visit and reaffirmed his commitment to peace.
He said;
“Even though conflict causes pain, a father swallows it for the sake of his children”.
Mankpanwura added that; “Our Overlord has demonstrated that he is a man of peace. The fact that even some Lobi representatives could visit the palace today shows his open heart.”
He further added that the Yagbonwura has directed chiefs and youth leaders to draft by-laws that will guide coexistence between natives and settlers in Gonjaland. These regulations, he noted, will soon be presented to the Regional Peace Council for formal adoption.
It would be recalled that the Interior Minister Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka on September 8, 2025, inaugurated a seven-member mediation committee with a one-month mandate to resolve the Gbenyiri land conflict in the Savannah Region.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at the Interior Ministry in Accra, the minister said the committee was constituted on the directive of the National Security Council to reflect government’s commitment to peace, security, and social cohesion.
He outlined the committee’s terms of reference, which include facilitating the safe and dignified return of displaced residents, assessing the scope and dynamics of the conflict, and evaluating losses and damages suffered.
The committee is also tasked with promoting reconciliation and dialogue, recommending sustainable peace-building mechanisms, supporting the restoration of livelihoods, and providing actionable recommendations to strengthen local institutions.
The seven-member mediation committee is Chaired hy Mr. Emmanuel Habuka Bombande with the other members of the committee being Alhaji Collins Dauda (MP and chair of the Committee on Lands and Natural Resource in Parliament), Rev. Father Lazarus Annyere (Chair of Savannah Regional Peace Council), Dr. Festus Aubyn (West Africa Network for Peace-building), Sylvia Hormane Noagbesenu Esq (Ag. Director of Women, Youth, Peace and Security Institute, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center), Prof. Ramatu Alhassan and Dr. George Amoh (Ex. Sec. National PeaceCouncil) who will be the secretary.
Source: nkilgifm.com
