Ghana Report Aims to Heal Lobi-Gonja Communities

After months of careful listening and mediation, Ghana has a concrete plan to heal communities divided by conflict.

The Interior Minister received the final report from the Gbenyiri Mediation Committee this week, marking a major step toward peace between Lobi/Birifor and Gonja communities in the Savannah Region. The committee was formed in September 2025 after clashes disrupted life in the area.

Emmanuel Bombande led the mediation team through difficult conversations across the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba region. His group spoke with community members, traditional leaders, and stakeholders to understand the roots of tension and identify paths forward.

The report offers specific recommendations for rebuilding trust between neighbors who once lived peacefully together. It outlines steps to strengthen tolerance and restore stability that both communities can count on for years to come.

Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak praised the committee's dedication and promised government action on the recommendations. He thanked development partners who supported the process and asked them to continue helping as communities heal.

The Ripple Effect

This peacebuilding effort shows what's possible when communities choose dialogue over division. The Savannah Region conflict affected families, disrupted livelihoods, and created fear where there was once cooperation.

The mediation process itself brought people together in new ways. Traditional leaders from both communities sat at the same table, listened to each other's concerns, and worked toward shared solutions.

Bombande emphasized that real peace takes sustained commitment from everyone involved. He urged the government to create a clear timeline for implementing recommendations and to establish monitoring systems that keep progress on track.

Development partners played a crucial role by providing resources and expertise that made the mediation possible. Their continued involvement will help turn paper recommendations into real changes that residents can see and feel.

The government's quick commitment to implementation signals genuine priority for peace in the region. Communities that have lived with tension can now look toward a future built on mutual respect.

Ghana's approach demonstrates how systematic mediation can address deep-rooted conflicts when all parties commit to the process and follow through on solutions.