Regional News of Thursday, 27 November 2014

Source: Today Newspaper

Ghc5,300 needed to end Bimobas/Konkomba conflict

An amount of Ghc5, 300 is needed to end the long-standing conflict between Bimobas and Konkombas in the Northern region, Today Newspaper has gathered.

Bimobas and Konkombas have for over thirty (30) years, been involved in violent clashes over a land; the boundary of which is been the bone of contention between the two.

The paper learnt that part of Ghc5, 300 needed would be used to erect pillars for the boundary agreement reached between the leaders of the two tribes six (6) months ago.

The remaining part would be used to buy iron rods, cement and pay for the laborers who will be contracted to do the job.

Investigations revealed that the military had written letters to institutions including the Regional Coordinating Council, District Coordinating Council, National Peace Council, the regional Minister’s office, National Security, among others; on the need for government to provide the said money to bring a lasting end to the conflict.

However, the letters to the above institutions have not received any favorable response from government, which has left resolution to the conflict precariously hanging in the balance.

Interestingly, it was discovered that what was preventing the release of the Ghc5, 300 was because high-profile government officials profited hugely from the conflict.

And these profits were made from monies that were expended to maintain peace between the two tribes.

Meanwhile, speaking to Mr. Charlse Owusu, a member of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) who corroborated the story, he could not understand politicians tend to “play dangerous games” with the lives of Ghanaians.

In his estimation, government was aware of what must be done to end the conflict “but I cannot understand why it [government] is not doing what will be good for the two tribes.”

“Government rather takes delight in expending huge taxpayer’s money in maintaining the peace between the Bimobas and the Konkombas whereas it needs to solve the problem once and for all by providing the needed money for the building of pillars to delineate the land boundary between the two tribes,” Mr. Owusu advised.

Mr. Owusu could not fathom why monies that could be used to end the conflict will continually be spent in bussing leaders of the two feuding parties to Bolga to discuss the conflict anytime there is tension.

It is against this backdrop that the PPP man urged the Mahama administration to critically look at the issue and act with dispatch in providing the money for the boundary project.

“When we provide the money for the building of the boundary pillars, there will be peace and monies that would have been spent to maintain peace between the two tribes would be used to build infrastructural facilities in the deprived communities,” Mr. Owusu said.

He, however, warned of a potential conflict reigniting which will be disastrous for the country if the right things are not done.