Persistent conflicts ‘killing the progress’ of   Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri District – DCE laments

Persistent conflicts in the Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri District of the North East Region are crippling development efforts and disrupting the operations of the district assembly, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Joseph Ali Lachir, has disclosed.

The instability has, he said, forces the assembly to divert its focus and resources from critical development projects to managing security and humanitarian challenges.

Speaking in an interview after appearing before Parliament’s Local Government and Rural Development Committee on Thursday, Mr. Lachir lamented that the time the Assembly could have used for development are rather use to address security situations.

“That’s the main challenge I’m facing over there,” he told the Committee.

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He revealed that the district has been hit hard by repeated outbreaks of violence, leaving about 1,642 people displaced and over 170 houses destroyed.

“Every day there’s one conflict after another. As we speak, about 1,642 individuals are out of their homes. Their houses have been completely demolished, and some now sleep under mosquito nets in the open,” the DCE lamented.

Mr. Lachir explained that most of the conflicts stem from chieftaincy and land disputes, which frequently escalate into violent confrontations.

According to him, the situation has worsened poverty levels in the district, compounding the suffering of residents who have already been struggling with limited economic opportunities.

“Poverty is already widespread in rural Ghana. Now that conflict has come to add to it, the situation is even more serious. Imagine working all year only for your house and farm to be burnt down — that’s the pain people are enduring,” he added.

He explained that some of the displaced persons are currently staying with relatives in nearby communities, while others are relying on temporary relief support provided by the assembly.

Despite the dire situation, Mr. Lachir expressed hope that collaborative peace efforts among local authorities, traditional leaders, and security agencies will bring lasting stability to the area.

“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 added.