Wanep Warns Of Deteriorating Cordiality Between Dagaaba, Sissala Ethnic Groups

The West Africa Network for Peace-building (WANEP-Ghana) has warned of deteriorating cordial relationship between Dagaaba and Sissala ethnic groups, and urged the security agencies to act swiftly to apprehend the situation.

According to WANEP in its 2014 first quarter national human security early warning brief released recently: “In the Upper West Region, the cordial relationship and cohesion between the Dagaaba and the Sisaala in Fielmuo and Nimoro in the Lambussie-Karni District is currently challenged and requires urgent steps to prevent any act of violence especially before the onset of this year’s raining season”, the report stated.

National Network Coordinator of WANEP, Isaac Bayor addressing the media in Tamale, said information gathered by WANEP indicates that communication between the two groups is currently reduced and trust is dwindling. “It is important to note that, that any violence between the two groups has tendencies to escalate even beyond Fielmuo and Nimoro, and would be more costly and complicated to resolve”, he emphasised.

Although the report did not state clearly what could be the actual cause of the frosty cordiality between the two ethnic groups in a region touted as one of the most peaceful in the country, snippets of information gathered by Savannahnews suggest that, the problem may be as a result of scramble for agricultural lands in the area. It is believed that, the Dagaaba people of Fielmuo who originally come from the Nandom Traditional Area are considered settlers of Fielmuo which is a Sissala land. 

Mr. Bayor also noted that, recent communal clashes and incidents which resulted in loss of lives at Bimbilla, Sakongu and Kojoboni all in the Northern Region require urgent and all inclusive peace and conflict sensitive approaches towards resolving them. “It also requires a combination of hard-core security and soft approach aimed at reconciling/transforming community differences in order to ensure its sustainability. 

“This approach is all the more important as the latest killings in Aboabo, Sagnarigu and Savelugu which, are currently under investigation by the security operatives are being linked to politics and unresolved community conflicts including the existing Dagbon chieftaincy conflicts”, he stressed. 

He said there is need to collaborate with various agencies and stakeholders including the community institutions and civil society to ensure that revenge and retaliatory attacks which could undermine the peace process is avoided.

The January–March 2014 brief based its analysis on data recorded in the WANEP-Ghana’s National Early Warning system, GHANAWARN, as well as information gathered through stakeholders across the country. 

Sissala dancers from Pulima at a festival

For instance, the Greater Accra Region recorded the highest figure of 41 incidents of the 124 total incidents captured within the period. The Ashanti Region came second with 29 incidents while the Northern Region was third with a record of 14 incidents. The Central Region recorded 12, the Western and Eastern Regions 9 each, the Brong-Ahafo, 4, the Upper West and Volta Regions, 3 each while the Upper East Region recorded no pronounced incident.

Data from GHANAWARN indicate that despite stringent efforts by the security agencies, armed attacks remain the topmost security threat. Killings, which could be described as targeted, persist. 

Accidents, most of which were motor accidents was the second most threatening human security issue occurring especially along the roads of Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central and Western Regions of the country. 

The third issue identified was social tension and labour related demonstrations. These threats have been identified based on their frequency, casualty and their structural causes. 

While recognizing the fact that human security early warning was essential to preventing violent conflicts, Mr. Bayor said that could only be possible if immediate and adequate interventions were put in place.

He called on the Ghana Police Service, the Judiciary, and other security agencies to remain responsive, fair and open in enforcing the rule of law to serve as deterrent to crime and violence perpetrators.

He also called for increased police-community collaboration to enable sharing of information towards crime and violence prevention.

Mr. Bayor stressed the need for the police to continue to advice individuals to be security minded and report all forms of threats to life and properties to the appropriate them for proactive response. 

The WANEP Network Coordinator further appealed to the various Regional/District Security Councils, relevant Parliamentary Committees and Members of Parliament to intervene in the communities where violence has occurred and where there are threats of violence and use their good offices to ensure social cohesion and peace.

Water Crisis Hit Guunayili Residents In Tamale Metropolis

children fetching water from dam

Residents of Guunayili, a farming community in the Tamale South Constituency of the Northern Region have for over a decade now been competing with animals for ‘potable water’.  

The community which is about four miles away from the Tamale township can only boast of a small dam serving a population of five thousand people. Apart from the lack of save drinking water, Guunayili has no electricity and sanitary (toilet) facilities.

The current Presiding Officer of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly Alhaji Abubari Moahmmed is the Assemblyman for Guunayili. He has been serving Guunayili, Kambonayili and Chanshegu among others since 1992. His long term service as Assemblyman has earned him a name “Senior Minister”. 

He was elected Presiding Officer of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly in June 2013 with 48 votes out of 52 Assembly Members present. But for the people of Guunayili, it has no relevance because the communities under his jurisdiction still lack basic social amenities. 

Pupils of Guunayili/Kambonayili A.M.E. Zion Primary and Junior High Schools told Savannahnews that, the water problem in particular is affecting their education. According to them, they attend school late because of their long hours in search of water to bath.

Some residents say the Member of Parliament for Tamale South Constituency, Haruna Iddrisu and the Mayor of Tamale Hanaan Gundaadoo Abdul-Rahaman are both aware of their predicaments but are yet to come to their aid despite incessant appeals.

Following the continuous neglect by successive governments, the legislator and the Assembly, the Chief of Guunayili Naa Zakaria Nasagri with the support of community members initiated a self-help water project for the community to get potable water.

Unlike many communities in Tamale where communal labour is no longer practiced, Guunayili residents have found solace in the old practice. They have started digging a pipeline along the Tamale-Buipe road where a bigger pipeline was laid by the Ghana Water Company Limited during an expansion programme.

Pix by Mohammed Dikunyalala

The community is also liaising with a non-governmental organisation, NewEnergy– that is into the provision of potable water and sanitary facilities. Officials of this organisation after visiting Guunayili upon Naa Nasagri’s invitation estimated that, about fourteen coiled pipes would be required to extend water to the community. The community has so far managed to buy only five coiled pipes.

Alhaji Alidu Zakaria Nasagri, a son of the Chief, said with or without the support of their legislator and the Assembly, Guunayili residents will do all they can within their power to get potable water.

Naa Nasagri according to his son, has asked people who have acquired plots of land for development to show serious commitment by contributing to the extension of the pipelines or have themselves to blame in future. 

1,865 Displaced in Walewale

MP Walewale

Over 1,865 persons including 18 pregnant women and 319 under five children have been displaced by heavy rainstorm at Walewale in the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region. 

Close to 300 houses, 8 classrooms and mosques were completely roofed off, with electricity polls and other economic trees such as mango, dawadawa and shea nuts being uprooted by the devastating storm in three communities. The communities are Yama, Zua and Mishio. 

Last week, another devastating rainstorm disaster hit 8 communities in Walewale rendering 995 persons homeless. In that incident, several bags of maize, millet, groundnut and rice as well as clothings, TV sets and textbooks of affected school children were destroyed.

Rainstorm disaster and flooding have become virtually an annual occurrence in most parts of Northern Region.  It has destroyed several public and individual buildings and displaced several thousands of inhabitants including women and children. 

However, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Walewale, Dr. Sagre Bambangi has visited the over 1,865 persons who were affected by the rainstorm disaster. The MP in the company of the West Mamprusi District NADMO Coordinator, Mr. James Wunira sympathized with the victims. 

Fortunately no human lives were lost. At the time of the visit, some of the victims had no places to keep their salvaged properties. Some were also already making efforts to renovate their houses while others were perching with friends and relatives in the nearby communities. 

Dr. Sagre said that the magnitude of the disaster was above the capacity of an MP and even the District Assembly and therefore appealed to government and other benevolent organizations to support the victims especially the pregnant women and the under five children. 

In the interim, majority of the people according to the MP, needed some roofing sheets, roofing nails, wood and food aid to survive. He expressed the need for urgent attention for the affected schools to be re-roofed or renovated before the beginning of next term. 

The affected schools had closed down at the time of the visit. Dr. Sagre was particularly worried about the quality of materials used in the buildings, and the inability of most of the people to plant trees around their compounds to serve as wind brakes.

He however promised to do advocacy campaign to solicit for support from government, NGOs, Religious Organisations and other donor agencies to come to the aid of the victims.

The West Mamprusi District NADMO Boss, Mr. James Wunira expressed worry about the frequent disasters occurring in the district. He said that his outfit had done thorough assessment on the situation and gathered the necessary information for some action to be taken by the NADMO headquarters. 

He appealed to heads of schools and community members to plant more trees in and around their compounds to mitigate the effects of climate change emerging in the district. 

Mr. Wunira appealed to government to resource the District NADMO secretariats to be able to handle some emergency situations.

Future of School Children in Gbani Threatened By Negative Mining Activities

A coalition of civil society organisations on mining in Ghana, is urging the Ministry of Education and the Talensi District Assembly to immediately step in to ensure that the academic future and lives of over 129 pupils of St. Anthony Roman Catholic Primary School in Gbani is protected.  

Gbani, a mining community in the Talensi District in the Upper East Region, is host to many illegal (galamsey) mining activities operating alongside a Chinese medium scale mining company called Shanxi. 

Unfortunately, the concessions of Shanxi Mining Company Limited include the land of the only public basic school in Gbani, St. Anthony R/C Primary– and their activities per Savannahews investigations, are so far having serious negative impact on academic work. 

For instance, the machines used by the Chinese company make excessive noise and according to pupils of the school, this disturbs them and their teachers as they are unable to concentrate fully when classes are in session.  

The National Coalition on Mining (NCOM) based in Accra– and their local partners Zasilari Ecological Farms Project (ZEFP) and Tuona Pogaba Women (TUPACO) in the Northern Region are currently leading the charge to ensure that the school is immediately relocated to a safe environment for effective teaching and learning.

Issifu Sulemana Jobila who represents ZEFP told Savannahnews in an interview that, the coalition has been engaging with various stakeholders including officials of the Talensi District Assembly, inhabitants of Gbani and Shanxi to ensure that the interest of the innocent pupils are served.

He said: “The situation currently does not provide a safe and conducive environment for children to learn. Aside St. Anthony School, there is another private school, Bonsa International– that is also in a similar situation. No one knows when disaster will strike and so, we civil society members are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the right thing is done about these schools”. 

Giving the urgency and the seriousness of the problem, “we therefore call for the immediate relocation of the schools particularly the children of poor parents who are being exposed to flying rocks, noise, dust, and smoke as a result of blasting carried out by the Chinese as well as the illegal miners as we’re told”, Issifu stated.

However, further checks by Savannahnews uncovered that, there had been plans to actually relocate St. Anthony School but the process stalled due to a legal dispute instituted by Bismark Zumah, Assemblyman of Gbani over who is the rightful owner of the school land and therefore deserve compensation from Shanxi. 

When contacted, Mr. Zumah confirmed that he was actually in court to fight for the rights of the people of his community because Shanxi is trespassing on the community’s land and mining in areas that are not part of their legally acquired concession (s). 

According to him, where St. Anthony R/C Primary is located is not part of the concession(s) acquired by Shanxi saying “If Shanxi actually had the community at heart, they would have first build a new school for the people before they started mining and that would have prevented the legal action against them”, he added. 

A Human Resource Manager of Shanxi Joseph Anokye in sharing his personal views with the paper confirmed that, the relocation of the school delayed due to the dispute in court. “The case was first sent to the magistrate court in Bolgatanga and Shanxi won. The plaintiff….Assemblyman was not satisfied with the judgement given and decided to send the matter to the Appeals Court in Tamale. Judgement will be given on May 26, 2014”, he added.

According to him, Shanxi is ready to build a whole new school with modern facilities to replace the current St. Anthony immediately a piece of land is allocated for such purpose, adding “Shanxi has so far sunk 10 boreholes for Gbani, donated 70 desktop computers to some government institutions and 114 classroom furniture to St. Anthony School”, Mr. Anokye disclosed.     

Most of the problems highlighted by the coalition, Mr. Anokye blamed it on the illegal miners. “They are made up of people who are illiterate and so, they lack the expertise to use explosives. They blast anyhow and that causes the severe tremor, smoke and dust emissions which their own people are complaining about,” he noted. 

Meanwhile, the Assemblyman for Gbani refuted claims by Shanxi that it had sunk ten boreholes in the community and challenged officials of the company to show inhabitants where each of those boreholes are located.