Peace and stability have returned to the Gbingbani community in the Yunyoo-Nasuan District of the North East Region after a “blood burial” between the feuding factions.
The two factions (Bibukim and Binagam) of the Gbingbani traditional division, since March 2024, had been involved in violent conflicts due to disagreement regarding the enskinment and processes to lead to the enskinment of a youth chief in the area.
The violent clashes happened in March and June respectively and resulted in deaths and injuries to many and led to destruction of property including houses among others.
The situation led to the closure of many public facilities including schools, health facility and the market.
The situation also displaced many and compelled others to abandon their farms, homes and fled the community to the bush and other neighbouring communities for safety.
The situation is currently posing food insecurity in the community because they could not farm.
However, at a traditional ritual termed as “blood burial”, and performed by a third party (neutral community), the two factions set aside their differences and agreed to chat the path of peace and dialogue moving forward.
The Blood Burial, according to their oral traditional was instituted by their ancestors and comprised the slaughtering and burial of the blood of a ram and cock (to be collectively purchased by the two factions) to signify the burial of all souls lost during the conflict and burial of their differences.
The processes which also demanded the leadership of the feuding factions to make promises on behalf of their divides was binding and would have consequences on anyone and their descendants should they break the peace agreement to start any conflict.
This was made possible through the intervention of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Organisation (NABOCADO) under its INPEACE project funded by Misereor which complimented the efforts that were done by the District Assembly and other stakeholders to maintain security in the area.
Through the intervention, various stakeholders including traditional and local authorities were engaged to build their capacities on peaceful co-existence and established a Gbingbani Peace Committee to facilitate discussion among the feuding factions, to find a lasting solution to the conflict.
Naba Adamu Allasah Tula, Chief of Gbingbani (Bibukim clan), noted that they believed in the blood burial ritual performed and nobody from his clan would engage in any conflict with anyone moving forward.
He said as the chief of the area, he would facilitate a total reconciliation of the two clans to live in peace to enable the community promote development and socioeconomic prosperity.
Mr Talipiib Bagnankoum, the Elder of the Binagam clan of the Gbingbani traditional division, noted that the conflict had imposed serious hardships on the people and the blood burial had sealed the peace they were looking for and had chatted a new path for the community.
He said both clans were Kokombas by tribe and should not be seen fighting and promised to engage in activities that would promote peaceful coexistence and development.
Yunyoo-Rana Yamyia Took II, Paramount Chief of the Yun-yoo Traditional Area, noted that traditional ways of settling disputes and making peace were more lasting and instilled fear in the feuding factions and urged stakeholders to minimise the use of the court to find peace.
Mr Bitian Konlan, the District Chief Executive for the Yunyoo-Nasuan, commended the two factions and stakeholders involved in bringing peace to the community, particularly NABOCADO, adding that the Assembly had lost huge sums of money in maintaining peace in the area.
He urged the community to continue to use dialogue in settling their differences instead of engaging in violence.
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