Mabenga Blames Disturbances On The Agenda Of Some Politicians

The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, has attributed the recent spate of disturbances in the region, particularly in the areas of chieftaincy and land disputes, to the activities of some politicians who have a hidden agenda.

According to him, the unfortunate happenings in the region that had resulted in deaths and destruction of properties, particularly in an election year, was worrying and were meant to breach the peace and destabilise the government.

Mr Mabengba said this when he was addressing members of the National Democratic Congress in Tamale last Monday after the party had donated food items to the Tamale Central Hospital. The items, valued at GH¢3,600, included rice, maize, assorted fruit drinks, blankets, cooking oil, loaves of bread and biscuits. The NDC members also undertook a clean-up exercise at the hospital. The activities were organised by the party to mark its 20th anniversary celebration in the region.

The Minister stressed that the security agencies had been placed on high alert to deal with individuals who foment trouble by fanning chieftaincy and ethnic conflicts in the region.

“We are not going to allow people to succeed with their parochial and politically motivated activities in the region; nobody should be allowed to take the law into his or her own hands” Mr Mabengba stated.

He noted that a critical look at the situation showed that for the past three years, the region had been peaceful but suddenly the region was becoming inundated with chieftaincy issues, particularly in this election year.

“Being an election year, all manner of people have got hidden agenda, giving rise to pockets of disturbances in the region; looking at all the flashpoints in the region, most of them have chieftaincy related issues,” he pointed out.

He cautioned those breaching the peace to put a stop to their nefarious activities because the law would deal with them when found culpable.

“We are in an election year and please let us maintain the peace” he further entreated residents of the region.

Over the past one week, there have been disturbances in the Nankpanduri, Kpamale and Tishegu areas of the region. The conflict that broke out between the Konkombas and Bimobas at Kpamale claimed three lives, while the chieftaincy dispute of Tishegu also claimed a life. The disturbances left in its trails the destruction of properties including houses, injuries to inhabitants of those communities and the breach of the peace.

The Medical Superintendent of the Tamale Central Hospital, Dr Patrick Bampoh thanked the minister and his entourage for the gesture.

He noted that 20 years in the life of any organisation was not an easy one, hence it called for celebration.