CONFLICTS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NORTHERN GHANA ...Views from panellists in Wa (MIRROR, PAGE 27)

CHRIS ALALBILA
ACTING REGIONAL
MANAGER, GHANA BROADCASTING
CORPORATION (GBC)

There is no doubt that conflict has impacted negatively on the development of the three northern regions of the country. It is also true that under-development has also contributed to the emergence of the conflicts. This is because the people of the three regions see themselves as underdogs, especially so, when people posted here to work refuse to come.
Such attitude gives the impression that the northern parts of the country are no-go areas, and the people wonder why this is so. At times some people transferred to the northern parts of the country even see such transfers as punishment from their superiors.
I think that part of the solution to conflicts in northern Ghana is for successive governments to develop all the roads linking the three regions to the rest of the country. As Ghanaians, we are first and foremost one people with a common destiny and so it is important that interaction between the peoples of northern Ghana and the rest of the country is encouraged so we would all see ourselves as part of the country.
On a more serious note, the underdevelopment of the northern regions is a major contributory factor to the number of conflicts the area experiences. In the Upper West region for instance, more than half of the population is believed to be living outside the region because of poverty.
I think that if indeed we want to nip this canker in the bud, then the authorities of the state must come clear with strategies to tackle the problems and resolve these conflicts once and for all.

Adombiri-Naba ViviaN
Student, University for Development Studies, Wa Campus

Those of us who come from northern Ghana always feel very disturbed when the area comes up for discussion, because it is always about conflicts. I am hoping for a day when I will listen to radio or any news item to hear that some investors have come to build a factory and have employed some of the youth in the area. This is what we want and not the persistent talk about fighting. It’s a bother really.
Many a time these conflicts are about chieftaincy, religion or disagreement between two or more ethnic groups. Sadly, we the indigenes tend to forget that we are one people. We have ethnic groups such as the Dagarbas from Upper West and the Frafras from Upper East who are closely related.
Therefore, hardly would one ever see a Dagarba and a Frafra fighting or quarrelling. It is the same with some other ethnic groups and so I think we have to take a cue from some of these practices and friendships that have been nurtured since time immemorial so that we would live in peace and harmony.
With respect to the chieftaincy institution, I am of the opinion that the various chieftaincy secretariats will have be adequately resourced so they could begin tracing the lineage of the various clans in order to come up with the right heirs to occupy the various skins.
The chiefs must also ensure proper documentation of those lineages and I am convinced that when this is done many of these conflicts would be resolved. When the people lose faith in their leaders it tends to breed conflict and I think such instances ought to be checked in order to make sure that we get the right people to lead us. When this is done the youth in particular would learn from their leaders and ensure to make the three northern regions a conflict-free area in the country.

SNR INSPECTOR DIVINE AHUMAH OCANSEY, GHANA IMMIGRATION
SERVICE (GIS), WA

The lack of communication has been a very major factor when we talk of conflicts in northern Ghana. I consider the lack communication as a major contributor to conflicts because even as we speak now, people of northern Ghana do not know what is happening in the south, particularly in Accra.
As a result the least rumour that appears in the press about the north is believed to be true and this invariably leads to confusion because facts have been distorted.
Take the news that went round after the elections that some ethnic groups were being attacked in some parts of Accra for instance. In a case like this if you hear that your kith and kin are being attacked in Accra, you might also begin to attack people of other ethnic groups without first ascertaining the truth.
As a matter of fact, we need more radio stations including other mediums of communications to sensitise the people and educate them on the need to be law-abiding. There is also the need for a national forum to deliberate on such situations because conflicts have now become synonymous with the northern part of the country which we have to deal with.
One other problem that fuels conflict in the North has to do with the lack of job opportunities which leads to idleness especially among the youth in the area. In situations like this any confrontation leads to confusion which in many instances spread into conflicts and affect large areas. 

FAUSTINA NANKURI
TEACHER, CHARIA CATHOLIC PRIMARY B

A lot has been said over the years about conflicts in the three northern regions and for me I think our leaders, particularly those from the three northern regions, be they parliamentarians, chiefs, and opinion leaders, would all have to come together and constitute a think tank made up of all shades of opinion.
The group so formed from the respective regions would work to identify the root causes of some of these conflicts, the areas where these conflicts usually occur, as well as map out mechanisms that would be used to address some of these problems.
As a matter of fact Ghana has come of age and, therefore, I expect the people of the three northern regions to have fellow-feeling for one another, educate our children, ensure that factories are built and hospitals put up among others. These for me are the things that we should be channelling our energies to rather than engaging our own blood brothers and sisters in conflicts that at the end of the day do not bring any form of development to our people.
With the vast expanse of land lying across the length and breadth of these three regions, a lot could be done to improve the lot of the people if we begin to believe in ourselves by taking bold initiatives. We must support the government and try and drum home the basic problems that we face and seek for assistance.
Northern Ghana apart from being at the receiving end of some colonial legacies, is still marking time because we as a people seem not to have identified our priorities. We keep crying out loud about poverty, but then, instead of trying to find requisite solutions to eradicate poverty from the regions we are rather fighting over things that for me are sometimes very trivial and non-existent.
As people from northern Ghana, we have to live up to expectation by solving our own problems and I believe that if we cannot, no body else can.

ACP AUGUSTINE
GYENING
DEPUTY UPPER WEST REGIONAL POLICE
COMMANDER

Conflicts have retarded the progress of the three northern regions, especially the Northern and the Upper East regions. A case in point is the situation in Bawku. The elders in these regions must begin to talk to the people who foment trouble and educate them on the need to make conscious effort for peaceful co-existence.
It is important that the people are made to know the consequences of their actions. At the moment the government spends so much money on peacekeeping just to ensure that there is sanity in the conflict areas. The people must know that all the money being spent on the maintenance of peace could have been used for development projects to benefit them in several ways rather than on peacekeeping missions.
The axe must be made to fall heavily on fomenters of conflicts to serve as deterrent to others who harbour such ill motives. Perpetrators must be treated as criminals and made to face the full rigours of the law. Indeed, they must not be given any form of protection at all. By so doing, I am sure that all others who have become obstacles and are thwarting efforts to make northern Ghana a peaceful place would be weeded out for peace to prevail.

GEORGE TAGOE
REGIONAL MANAGER, GHANA IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (GIDA)

Conflicts bring about insecurity and inadequate use of resources. All the cases of malnutrition and maternal and infant mortality situations which are high in these regions are invariably due to the existence of conflicts. For instance, pregnant women cannot visit the hospitals to receive attention while farmers and market women can also not go about their activities to increase food production.
I think it is about time institutions and other non-governmental organisations which deal with conflict situations, especially the National Commission for Civic Education adequately (NCCE), were assisted and resourced to continuously sensitise the people of the three northern regions on the repercussions of conflicts.
They must also be educated on grievance resolution and adviced to desist from attacking perceived opponents. In my view, the people of northern Ghana ought to take a cue from what is happening in other parts of the continent and always endeavour to give peace a chance. It is important that we insulate children from these conflicts, otherwise they may grow up seeing people of other ethnic, clan or religious groups as enemies.
Northern Ghana has a lot of potential and I am convinced that given the right conditions, the area could attract more investments.