The chieftaincy clash between residents of Wenchiki and Sakou on 23 February in the Chereponi District of the North East Region has led to loss of lives and properties.
Three civilians are responding to treatment at the Chereponi Government Hospital, and one military officer is responding to treatment at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra. One civilian (a student) has been discharged from the hospital.
The clash has left 479 people homeless and displaced many more. Most of the affected persons have sought refuge with relatives in neighbouring communities within the Yunyoo-Nasuan and Chereponi Districts.
The affected persons are appealing to the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for support.
Residents fear a looming food shortage because of the effect of the clash. In an interview with Asaase News, Mohammed Gyiwa (a resident) said, “As of now, we have lost a lot of property. It has several effects on people’s lives. How to get food to eat and solve family problems…”
The assembly member for the Wenchiki electoral area, Alhassan Abdul Ganiu, lamented that the situation will be worse if the victims do not get support.
He said, “For now, what we want the government to do is that those people who are affected by the conflict, I think the government should come to their aid and support them, otherwise there is going to be a shortage of food and there is going to be suffering on the part of the people.”
As one of the most deprived districts in the region, Chereponi needs more developmental projects to improve the road infrastructure, health facilities, school infrastructure, potable drinking water, and other social amenities to serve its constituents better.
The North East regional minister, Yidana Zakaria, visited the communities after the clash. He called on civil society organizations, NGOs, philanthropists and other well-meaning Ghanaians to, as a matter of urgency, support the victims with food items to avoid acute food starvation.
“The concern is about getting their roofs back and supporting them with food and clothing. I didn’t see anything that they can rely on for now. So, food shortage for those who are victims of that conflict is an obvious situation and they need to be supported.
“I would also have to make a passionate appeal to individuals and groups to try to see what they can do to support them because they are our brothers and sisters who are in critical need of help,” Zakaria appealed.
Reporting by Dokurugu Alhasaan in the North East Region
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