Norther Regional Minister urged Konkombas and Bemobas to fight for development

The Northern Regional Minister, Moses Bukari Mbengba has rubbished media reports that he has hands in the ethnic clashes between Konkombas and Bemobas. He challenged those making such wild allegations against him to desist from it.

Mr Mabengba who stated this at the Nayiri Palace in the East Mamprusi District dare those who are bent of tarnishing his hard warn reputation by bring him into chieftaincy to desist from it as it will not inure any benefit to them.

The minister who was accompany by his deputy San Nasamu Asabigi, Brigadier General Martin Ahiaglo Acting Chief of the Army Staff, Colonel Samson Adeti, Director of Army Operations and Colonel M'wine Atintade, Director of Public Relations at the Ghana Armed Forces, Northern Regional Police Commander, George Tuffur and officials of NADMO paid a courtesy call on the paramount Chief of the Mamprugu traditional area, Nayiri Naa Mahami Abdulai Bohigu Shiriga to find out what exactly the cause of the clashes was.

The minister also urged the two ethnic groups to emulate other ethnic groups who he said fight for development but not things that would not benefit them.

Mr. Mabengba and his entourage also visited Kpamali and Nakpaduri were over 150 houses were burnt down. Briefing the minister through an interpreter on the incident, the Paramount Chief of Mamprugu Traditional Area, Nayiri Naa Mahami Abdulai Bohigu Shariga lamented the incident.

Nayiri Bohigu Shariga said the problem was between two communities over a parcel of land and chieftaincy and called on two communities to unite for the interest of development in the area.

He stated that the matter is purely traditional and has nothing to do with any politician. The Acting Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Martin Ahiaglo on behalf of the Chief of Defince Staff, expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and assured that the military will ensure that all lives and properties are protected.

He expressed the hope that, the people in the area will listen to the Nayiri and eschew violence. He urged both parties in the area to result to dialogue in solving the problem saying dialogue is the best options in conflict resolution. Lt Martin stressed that war cannot solved any conflict and appealed to the people to negotiate their disagreement towards finding lasting peace in the area. The minister on behalf of government later presented some relief items to the victims. The items includes 100 bags of rice,15 bags of maize, 20 curtains of cooking oil, 50 bales of used clothing and some plastic buckets among others.

By: MOHAMMED M. BONDIRIGBUM TAMALE