How do we resolve conflicts in the north - Views from Tamale

1.     Jemilatu Musah – National Service Personnel

The image of the north has been soiled by these prolonged conflicts. These conflicts have overshadowed the great culture and traditions of the north and so instead of the world talking about our Damba and Fire festivals, they rather talk about conflicts in the north.

For me, conflicts in the north could be blamed on the level of poverty in the area. Many of the people in deprived villages are very poor and depend largely on farming for their survival.

So they would go great lengths to fight for ownership over their farmlands, especially when they feel threatened.

The government must extend development projects to various parts of the north so as to create equal opportunities for people to be employed and live better lives.

When people are employed and educated, they are less likely to fight each other.

2.     Baba Iddi, Graduate Student, UDS

Conflict, undoubtedly, is a worrying phenomenon in our part of the country. Even though poverty and illiteracy could be said to be the major cause of our conflicts, usually the fusion of ethnicity, chieftaincy and politics have been the main causes of the conflicts in our area.

The eye-watering impact that conflicts have had on the development of the north is clear for everybody with an active mental frame to see.

It is sad to note that resources that would have been channelled into areas desperately in need of infrastructure had been used in keeping peace in the north.

It was therefore refreshing to hear that both gates in the Dagbon Chieftaincy conflict had seen the need to smoke the peace pipe.

The future of northern Ghana lies on the shoulders of the present leadership and they would be judged by posterity.

Our leaders, including chiefs, political heads and elite, owe us a responsibility to obviate the conditions that lead to these conflicts by seeing Northern Ghana as bigger than their individual, ethnic, chieftaincy or political ambitions.

Together, we must all work to put an end to these conflicts before the conflicts put an end to Northern Ghana.

3.     Bintu Alhassan – Trader, Tamale Central Market

Over the years, conflicts have destroyed our region and prevented us from developing faster.

Each time there is violence, we are unable to do business and this brings hardship to our families because we do not get income to take care of our homes. Our children cannot go to school and this would affect their future.

Many of our youth have remained unemployed because they are mostly used by the politicians to fight for them.

The government must punish all those involved in violent conflicts. It would send a signal to others not to engage in violence.

Without peace, the north would remain where it is, whilst the south continues to progress.

4.     Gayoni Dorwii Joseph, KEK Insurance

Most conflicts in the north are either inter-ethnic or chieftaincy-related. It is either people of different ethnic groups are fighting over the right of ownership over parcels of land or that people from the same ethnic group are fighting over chieftaincy.

For me, it would have been easier to resolve these issues, but for the interference of politicians. Politicians mostly poke their noses into these conflicts to serve their interests, especially when the feuding factions belong to opposing political groups.

The reality is that people in the villages, many of whom are illiterates, rely on the educated ones for guidance. Unfortunately, these educated ones, who are occupying political posts, misguide their people just to ensure that they remain in office.

Our people had traditional ways of resolving conflicts and it included dialogue, negotiation, mediation and adjudication by chiefs. So for me, the best way to resolve these conflicts is to allow the traditional authorities to use their traditional methods to resolve these conflicts and eschew political interference.

5.     Katumi Alhassan, Retired Midwife

I feel sad that every time you hear about the north in the news, it is about conflicts.

Due to this, investors are not coming to the north to invest and create job opportunities, yet our people are jobless and poor.

Many doctors and other health professionals refuse posting to the north due to the perception that there is always conflict in the north.

It is high time, the leaders of the region sit and analyse how the region is suffering as a result of these conflicts.

They must sit together and agree to co-operate, respect each other’s views and resolve their differences amicably.

6.     Alhassan A. Rashid, Opinion Leader, Tamale Central Mosque

For me, we are overwhelmed by conflicts in various parts of Ghana because of our intolerant and selfish nature.

Many people cannot understand why others should have opposing views and belong to opposing political parties. They are not willing to accept the views of others because they think theirs is the best.

They also want their interests and demands to be met, not considering the interests of others. It is because of this that we cannot resolve simply differences among ourselves and this degenerates into violence.

People should realise that even in their own homes, they are unable to get every family member to follow their beliefs and act in unity. How then do they expect the larger society to act like them?

We must begin to preach tolerance to ensure that people appreciate the views and interests of other people. We must be willing to compromise and sacrifice our interests for the benefit of the entire society.

(Also published in The Mirror of May 25, 2013, p. 40)