North gonja DCE steps in on maprusi/gonja conflict
- North Gonja DCE and other authorities have met factions of the North Gonja districts to avert a looming conflict
- The impasse as a result of an allegation of water supply
- The DCE urged the parties to be calm as government is ready to help get a lasting solution
District Chief Executive for the North Gonja District, (DCE), Hon. Sorku Kassim Yahuza , has moved in to settle a growing impasse between two factions in the North Gonja District.
The impasse between the two factions, Mamprusi dominated Kpatarigu in the Yagaba/Kebore District and the Gonja dominated Mankarigu was ignited when the people of Kpatarigu refused to allow contractors working on the extension of electricity under governments rural electrification project to nine communities in the North Gonja District including Mankarigu through the Kpatarigu community last weekend.
The refusal led to a conflict which was solved by the intervention of the DCE for North Gonja District. He liaised with his counterpart in the Yagaba/Kabore district to address the issue in order in an attempt to find a lasting solution to the problem.
Narrating the issues that led to the disagreement, spokesperson for the Kpatarigu community, an islamic leader indicated that about a year ago, the people of Mankerigu disconnected their only source of portable drinking water which was sourced around the the Mankerigu area under circumstances unknown to them.
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He stated that this uncharitable behaviour from their neighbours had denied them access to portable drinking water till date causing unbearable hardship on the women of the community in sourcing water. He explained further that, they were also not prepared to allow the contractor extend electricity to Mankarigu and its surrounding communities through their community. This decision he emphasized was reached by the entire Kpatarigu community as a means of registering their displeasure towards the attitude of their brothers from Mankarigu.
On their part, the representatives of the people of Mankarigu indicated their displeasure at the unfounded accusation but declined to push any further for the sake of the presence of the two government officials in an attempt to find a lasting solution to the problem.
Addressing the gathering at the palace of the Kpatarigu chief, the DCE for North Gonja; Hon. Sorku Kassim Yahuza thanked the people of Kpatariga and Mankarigu for the peaceful manner in which they have co-existed over the years. He indicated that his outfit had picked signals of the looming conflict and in attempt to find a lasting solution to the problem had liaised with his counterpart from the Yagaba/Kabore district. He stated that the North Gonja district and Yagaba/Kabore districts were not only neighbours but were created and inaugurated at the same period.
Adding that the stories of the two districts may be different but their destinies are the same since there were all rural, new and found around the "overseas" portions of Northern Region and as such at all times there must be collaboration not just between the two district assemblies but the good people of the two districts. He informed the gathering that their presence in the communities was to find a lasting solution to the impasse and was happy both parties were ready for a peaceful deliberation. Mr. Sorku Kassim Yahuza emphasised that without peace in the area the two districts cannot improve on the well-being of the people through the Changing Lives Transforming Ghana agenda of the President John Mahama led government.
On his part, the DCe for Yagaba/Kabore; Maxwell Awuton Mahama stressed that, they as representatives of the government were in the community to listen to them and to join them in finding a lasting solution to the impasse. He further urged the two communities to continue to enjoy the peaceful co-existence in the communities and solidify their union and not break it up. he also expressed gratitude to all for attending the meeting
Before the meeting came to a close, the two government officials had resolved with the approval of the representatives of the two communities to implement the recommendations of the meeting which included the re-connection of the Kpatarigu community water project and to extend electricity through the Kpatarigu community to Mankarigu and its environs.
The two District Chief Executives were accompanied by a cross-section of NDC constituency executive from the Yagaba/Kabore and Daboya.
Source: Mohammed Abdul-Aziz
Source: YEN.com.gh
