The Gonja and Mamprusi communities in the North East and Savannah Regions have been urged to embrace peace by former president John Dramani Mahama.
He criticized the recent fighting between Gonja and Mamprusi groups along a contentious boundary between the Soo and Wasipe traditional areas.
According to Mr. Mahama’s Facebook post, Gonjas and Mamprusis have coexisted peacefully for a long time and have become family through intermarriage and other social ties.
“We must endeavour to co-exist peacefully and deploy non-violent means to resolve disputes instead of resorting to arms at the slightest provocation,” he stated.
He said the issues that unite us must surpass those that divide us and urged the people of Soo and Wasipe to channel their resources and energy into fighting poverty and deprivation which is “our common enemies”.
According to Mr. Mahama, it was “unfortunate.”
“We must endeavour to co-exist peacefully and deploy non-violent means to resolve disputes instead of resorting to arms at the slightest provocation. The issues that unite us must surpass those that divide us. I urge the people of Soo and Wasipe to channel their resources and energy into fighting poverty and deprivation, our common enemies.
“I call for the urgent intervention of the Overloads of Mamprugu and Gonjaland and the Paramount Chiefs of the Soo and Wasipe Traditional Areas to restore calm and deploy time-tested traditional and peaceful means to resolve the dispute. I also call on the Ministers for Chieftancy, National Security, and Interior and the North East & Savanna Regional Security Councils to take urgent steps to resolve the conflict and restore calm to the area.
“Let me assure my brothers and sisters in Mamprugu and Gonjaland of my readiness to assist in any way possible to bring lasting peace to the area.”
These hostilities, which are the result of disagreements over conventional jurisdictional issues, have caused property damage and fatalities.
This is regrettable. Gonjas and Mamprusis have coexisted peacefully for a very long time, and through intermarriage and other social connections, they have grown to be family.
