CURB TENSION BETWEEN FULANI HERDSMEN AND COMMUNITIES

(Daily Graphic, Nov 18, 2011, page 17)

THE West African Network for Peace-building, WANEP-Ghana, has called on the government to institute a more pragmatic and sustained mechanism to address the increasing tensions between Fulani herdsmen and their host communities.

It warned that sooner or later, these tensions, if not properly managed, could pose serious threats to the nation’s security.

In its quarterly release to the press signed by the National Network Co-ordinator of WANEP-Ghana, Mr Justin Bayor, the organisation mentioned farmer-pastoralists conflicts as one of the potential security threats picked up by its early warning system.

It said the tensions between herdsmen and farmers in areas such as Asante-Akim-North (Agogo) municipality and the East and West Gonja districts were an indication of what could happen in the near future.

It however called on people living in communities where the Fulani herdsmen operate to exercise restraint, whiles government finds lasting solution to this emerging threat.

WANEP-Ghana is currently hosting a web-based early warning system, known as ‘GhanaWarn’, which tracks conflict and human security related issues in the form of incident and situational reports from various parts of the country.

‘GhanaWarn’ is being funded by the Department for International Development (DfID), through the Sustainable Peace Initiative (SPI) and the Christian Aid.

According to WANEP-Ghana, armed robbery and the movement of sophisticated arms into the country were the two other potential national security threats picked up by its early warning system.

“We noted that armed robbery as a threat started in July and became intense in the month of August and is witnessing a change in tactics by the robbers. On three occasions the robbers fired directly into buses loaded with passengers,” the release read.

On the threat posed by the smuggling of arms into the country, the organisation noted that the emphasis of the threat was on where such arms were being trafficked from, their destination, sophistication and the dangers these arms pose to communities where there are unresolved conflicts.

“For example, the police arrested a man at Sabon Gare in the Bawku Municipality for possessing 12 rounds of 9mm pistol ammunition, 21 rounds of Mark Four ammunition, 78 rounds of G3 ammunition and 892 rounds of AK47 assault rifle,” the release indicated.

It further mentioned that an AK47 and six magazines loaded with 366 rounds of ammunitions were retrieved recently in Gushegu in the Northern Region from two Fulani men suspected to be armed robbers.

“Whereas WANEP-Ghana commends the police and some communities for their efforts including dawn swoops in an attempt to weed out criminals from their hideouts, we indicate that these incidents are still threats to security with higher potentials of existence so long as the structural causes are not addressed,” the release said.

WANEP-Ghana therefore called on the government and civil society groups to help increase the manpower and logistical capacity of the security services.

It also entreated the police to continue with its efforts towards implementing the National Community Policing System to help curb highway and community crimes.