The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri, Joseph Ali Lachir, has painted a grim picture of the impact recurring conflicts in his district, revealing that more than 1,600 residents have been displaced as a result of violent clashes rooted in chieftaincy and land disputes.
The persistent hostilities, he said, have derailed development efforts and deepened poverty levels in the area.
“As a rural district, we are facing many challenges, but the most important one is conflict. Every day, there’s one conflict after another. As we speak, about 1,642 individuals are out of their homes,” he said.
Appearing before Parliament’s Local Government and Rural Development Committee on Thursday, the DCE lamented that the ongoing disputes have left several families homeless, with many forced to live in makeshift shelters.
“Their houses — about 176 — have been completely demolished. Some of them now sleep with mosquito in the open. We don’t know what will happen next, but we pray that things get better soon,” he added.
Mr. Lachir explained that the conflicts often stem from chieftaincy disagreements that spill over into land ownership issues, making them difficult to resolve.
“The conflicts start with chieftaincy and end with land issues. If someone is given a chieftaincy title, others may disagree, claiming he is not qualified or has been elevated above them. That’s how it begins,” he noted.
The DCE further lamented that the instability has crippled his administration’s ability to focus on development projects, as much of the district’s energy and resources are spent on addressing security concerns.
“The time we could have used for development, we rather use to address security situations. That’s the main challenge I’m facing over there,” he said.
He also highlighted the compounding effect of conflict and poverty, describing it as a double tragedy for residents.
“Poverty is already widespread in rural Ghana. Now, when conflict comes to add to it, the situation becomes even more serious. Someone can lose their home, their farm, and everything they have worked for in a single night,” he stated.
Mr. Lachir expressed hope that ongoing efforts by local authorities, traditional leaders, and security agencies would eventually bring lasting peace to the district.
“We are working together to ensure that we get to the end of this. I believe with prayer and guidance, things will become better,” he stressed.