Savannah Regional Minister, Salisu Be-Awuribe, says government is taking steps to restore peace in Gbinyiri and its surrounding communities following violent clashes over a land dispute.
His assurance comes after Interior Minister, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, disclosed that more than 13,000 Ghanaians had fled to neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire as a result of the conflict. Figures from Ivorian authorities put the number of refugees at 13,253.
The violence in Gbinyiri, a community in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region, erupted over a disputed land sale by the local chief. Tensions escalated when a private developer attempted to commence work on the land, sparking confrontations that left six people dead, 18 others injured, and several houses, including the Chief’s Palace, set ablaze.
Speaking to the media on Friday morning, the Regional Minister said measures were underway not only to calm tensions but also to facilitate the safe return of displaced residents, particularly those who had crossed into Côte d’Ivoire.
