Rev. John Ntim Fordjour
Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has urged political leaders to refrain from politicising tribal conflicts, warning that such actions only deepen divisions and worsen insecurity.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, September 4, Rev. Ntim Fordjour drew attention to the escalating violence in Gbinyiri in the Savannah Region, where the death toll has reportedly climbed to 31, with some 48,000 people displaced.
“Gbinyiri conflict in Savannah Region: Death toll rises to 31 with 48,000 displaced. You see why it’s dangerous to politicise tribal conflicts? Now your own backyard is sadly in crisis,” he wrote.
“Let’s say NO to politicising tribal conflicts. Let’s all pray for calm in Gbinyiri and Bawku.”
The comment comes as national concern mounts over renewed outbreaks of violence in northern Ghana, particularly in Bawku, where long-standing tensions have frequently erupted into deadly clashes.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour emphasised that peacebuilding, not partisanship, must remain the focus if lives are to be saved and displaced communities are to be restored.
Meanwhile, the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has disclosed that more than 13,000 Ghanaians have crossed into Côte d’Ivoire following violent clashes over the Gbinyiri land dispute.
According to him, official records from Ivorian authorities put the figure at 13,253 refugees.
“As of yesterday, September 3, 2025, working with the Ivorian authorities, we can confirm that about 13,000 individuals are in Côte d’Ivoire. The exact number communicated to us by the government is 13,253,” the minister revealed in an interview with Accra-based Joy FM on September 4, 2025.
He explained that the violence has triggered displacements across four regions, with many still stranded in Upper West and Savannah, while a significant number fled into Côte d’Ivoire through riverine communities.
“We have displaced persons across about four regions… some substantial number also crossed the river. If you know the terrain very well, it has a border community with Côte d’Ivoire,” he said.
Muntaka assured that the government, district assemblies, and international partners are mobilising relief for the affected.