A simmering dispute over land in Ghana’s Savannah Region has exploded into deadly violence, leaving at least 31 people dead and forcing nearly 48,000 residents to flee their homes.
The clashes erupted on August 24 in the border village of Gbiniyiri after a plot of land was sold by the local chief to a private investor without the approval of the wider community. Attempts by the buyer to take possession were met with resistance, and tensions quickly spiraled. In the chaos, the chief’s palace was torched, intensifying the hostilities and drawing armed groups into the conflict.
Relief officials report that tens of thousands have been displaced, most of them women and children. Many families are now crammed into makeshift shelters or relatives’ homes, surviving on scarce food supplies. More than 13,000 people have crossed into Ivory Coast, where they are being accommodated in villages already stretched by earlier waves of refugees from Burkina Faso.
To contain the unrest, more than 700 security personnel have been deployed and a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed. Authorities say the situation has been calm in recent days, with no new attacks reported. Local chiefs and elders are working with security agencies to restore order.
An investigative committee, involving traditional leaders and the National Peace Council, has been set up to examine the roots of the conflict and find a path to reconciliation.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of Ghana’s northern regions to land-related disputes, where questions of ownership, traditional authority, and development often collide. While calm is gradually returning, rebuilding trust and stability in Gbiniyiri and beyond will require careful negotiation and sustained peace efforts.
