The Effects of Chieftaincy and Land Conflicts on the Socio-political Development of Northern Ghana

Abstract

This paper assesses the effects of inter-ethnic chieftaincy and land conflicts on the socio-political development of northern Ghana. The knowledge gap the study sought to fill is the use of theoretical antecedents to illustrate that conflicts have some merits for socio-political development and that conflict theories equally depict solutions to conflicts. Methodologically, the study makes use of content analysis of secondary data, by following the tenets of the realistic group conflict theory. Examples were drawn from the Konkomba, Gonja, Nanumba, Dagomba, Kusasi, Mo and the Sissala disputes of emancipation. It was revealed that major positive effects of the conflicts include improvement in the decision-making processes on community development issues, strengthening of inter-ethnic unity and helping to redeem the identity of a group. The destruction of life and property is the major demerit. It was recommended that civic education on the causes and effects of the conflicts by authentic participation of potential disputants could provide a more sustainable way of preventing conflict.

Relevance of indigenous conflict management mechanisms: evidence from Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo and Central Gonja Districts of Northern Region, Ghana

“…According to the critics, they violate universal standards of human rights and democracy; reflect issues of discrimination against women and lack of voice for children (Boege, 2006). Consequently, western-centred mechanisms such as the formal court system, committees of enquiries, imposition of curfews and military patrols dominate conflict management efforts in Ghana and in particular the Northern Region, yet, the negative aspects of conflicts triumphs (Bukari et al, 2017;Kendie et al, 2014).…”

“…Several studies such as Mahama (2003), Awedoba (2009), Sulemana (2009), Ibrahim (2013), Kendie et al (2014), Godwin (2015) and Bukari et al (2017), on conflicts in the Northern Region treated the relevance of indigenous conflict management mechanisms as an auxiliary issue. Consequently, this paper explores the relevance of indigenous conflict management mechanisms in the Northern Region of Ghana and how they may be used to effect the termination of enduring or intractable conflicts.…”

Hepatitis C virus seroprevalence, testing, and treatment capacity in public health facilities in Ghana, 2016–2021; A multi-centre cross-sectional study

“…Furthermore, cultural practices such as scarification of the face and other parts of the body which may occur as early as the first week of life, for purposes of tribal and family identification, spiritual protection and traditional medicine use are more prevalent in the northern regions than in the south [31], and likely contribute to higher rates of HCV transmission in the region. In addition to this, chieftaincy and ethnic conflicts which occur at a higher rate in Northern Ghana, may lead to increased HCV burden directly through blood exposure or indirectly through weakened socioeconomic and health infrastructure [32,33]. Southern Ghana was found to have the lowest anti-HCV prevalence in this study.…”

Cultural dynamics and conflict management: Evidence from Buipe and Bole chieftaincy conflicts in the Savannah Region, Ghana

“…There have been succession issues in Yapei in 1992, Kusawgu in 1992, and Daboya in 1994 Sonyor are the most recent. Although there have been various studies on conflicts in Northern Ghana, such as Kendie et al (2014), Bukari et al (2017), Ateng et al (2018), andIbrahim (2018), only Ateng et al (2018) examined the role of culture in the Dagbon peace process. The other studies have paid little attention to the cultural dynamics of the conflicts concerning management attempts.…”