The upsurge in violence crimes which sometimes result in conflicts leave much to be desired. Violence crimes are on the ascendancy and the billion dollar question everyone seems to be asking is: When will these conflicts and violence crimes stop in the three Northern Regions?
This development has raised grave concerns among inhabitants in the northern part of the country and the populace at large since a lot of revenue has been channeled to conflict management and resolutions.
Undoubtedly, the aftermath of every conflict represents a huge loss for a country. For decades now, successive governments have had to spend so much in managing conflicts in the country, especially in the three northern regions.
Conflicts and violence crimes make people to leave in fear, diminish production and more importantly, adversely affect the socio-economic stability of the nation.
In the light of this, Today thinks that importance must be given to the prevention of conflicts in our communities.
The Tamale metropolis in the Northern region, according to statistics, topped cases of violence crimes and threats last year, with 13 hot spots and flash points in Ghana.
The Bawku recurrent communal violence recorded 9 flash points followed by Yendi with 6 violence cases, and Bumkpurugu-Yunyoo district with 4 violence cases, all chieftaincy related.
According to an electronic database of the Ghana Network for Peacebuilding (GHANEP), Gushiegu, Tuobodom and other areas in the Western, Central and the Greater Accra Regions there were reported cases of violence cases.
The electronic database contains incident and situation reports gathered by community surveillance teams of GHANEP through interface meetings held between GHANEP and other stakeholders across the country.
The murder of the recently installed Chief of Shigu, near Garishegu, Naa Yakubu Andani, by irate youth; the murder of the Chief of Danchira, near Amasaman, in the Ga West district, and the death threat issued to a rival chief by another faction in Bamvim Doohine, a suburb of Tamale, were all chieftaincy related violence tracked by the electronic database.
The National Network Coordinator of GHANEP, Mr Justin Bayor, noted with concern that over the years, chieftaincy related conflicts have transformed into worse forms of violence.
If the above information by GHANEP is anything to go by, then there should be a great cause for worry.
Today in this regard recommends that all stakeholders including non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations and government agencies intensify their efforts in conflict management and resolutions in the country.
We have experienced instances where vigorous campaigns have been waged in conflict prone areas during elections, but as soon as the elections are over anti-violence and anti-conflict campaigns fade out.
We at Today think that should not be the case because there is the need to create more awareness on the need to stop fighting among ourselves.
We are gradually painting a very bleak picture of our country that used to be so peaceful and instead putting the investor community at risk.
Today, therefore, urges all and sundry to get actively involved in the anti-violence and anti-conflict campaigns.
