‘Ethnic conflicts have become a major headache for the government’ – President Mahama

The growing number of ethnic, land, and chieftaincy-related conflicts around the nation has alarmed President John Dramani Mahama, who has called the issue a “major headache” for his administration.

Speaking on Wednesday, December 10, during a meeting with the National Peace Council at the Jubilee House, the President stated that national security services tasked with maintaining peace in unstable areas were under a great deal of pressure due to the escalating tensions.

President Mahama warned that the growth of the conflicts could jeopardize national peace, explaining that many of them are the result of long-standing rivalries over chieftaincy, ethnicity, and land.

“All of us are concerned about the proliferation of conflicts across our country. There’s a rising intolerance, and it’s as a result of disagreements, first and foremost, to do with chieftaincy. It is putting a lot of pressure on our security services,” he stated.

He noted that long-term deployments have stretched security personnel thin in several conflict zones.

“A lot of our security services are tied down in conflict areas. Sampa, we have a whole contingent there. If you go to Bawku and Nkwanta, we have a whole contingent there. Recently, Savannah, we had a whole contingent there; we have not withdrawn them yet. And yet, there are so many of these all over the country. It has to do with ethnic and land disputes. It’s become a major headache for the government,” he said.

In order to aid in the restoration of peace in impacted communities, the President urged the National Peace Council to step up its efforts at mediation and dispute settlement.

“That is why we need to resort to the Peace Council to be able to carry out its mandate,” President Mahama stated.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com