A violent land dispute in Gbiniyiri, a community in the Sawla District of Ghana’s Savannah Region, has claimed the lives of five people. The clash, which occurred on Sunday morning, has also left six others injured, with three in critical condition.
According to District Chief Executive Sinkina Saaka, the violence erupted when a private developer attempted to start work on a parcel of land sold to them by the community chief. Community members resisted, leading to a fierce confrontation.
“The conflict began years ago when the chief sold the land to the developer,” Saaka explained. “When the developer came to work on the land, the community members prevented him. The chief and his son later visited the community to ascertain the situation and were physically attacked.”
Heavy security, including military and police personnel, has been deployed to the area to restore calm. The incident has raised concerns about the need for effective land management and conflict resolution mechanisms in the region ¹.
Casualties and Response
– Five people killed in the clash
– Six others injured, with three in critical condition
– Heavy security deployed to restore calm
– Military and police personnel involved in restoring order
The incident highlights the importance of addressing land disputes and ensuring that communities, chiefs, and developers work together to prevent such conflicts ².