President John Dramani Mahama has made a passionate appeal for peace in Nkwanta and surrounding areas of the Oti Region following a worrying resurgence of violent conflict that has left several people dead and many communities unsettled.
His call came during his ‘Thank You Tour’’ of the region, where he addressed chiefs, youth, and community members in the wake of persistent ethnic and chieftaincy-related tensions.
In an emotionally charged speech, President Mahama condemned the recent spate of killings and emphasized the need for dialogue over violence. He urged all factions involved in the conflicts to prioritize peaceful coexistence and return to the region’s traditional mechanisms for conflict resolution.
“Please, let’s give peace a chance. Every once in a while, in the security reports, I read very disturbing news about people who have died, including students. It’s completely unacceptable.”
President John Dramani Mahama
The President reminded residents that long-standing divisions—be they ethnic or chieftaincy-related—should not override the bonds of community and shared identity.
According to him, the people of Nkwanta and the larger Oti Region must learn to live together peacefully. “Let’s dialogue. Let’s use our traditional mechanisms to establish peace, because we have to live together. We’re one and the same people,” he said.
The former president, now re-elected and leading Ghana once again, said the real danger facing the region was not the presence of rival chieftaincies or competing ethnic claims, but the entrenched poverty that continues to undermine development and quality of life for many.
“Our common enemy is poverty, not ourselves. We should be fighting poverty, not fighting each other. And so government will make sure that we provide the appropriate security to ensure that people are able to go about their businesses without fear of being harmed.”
President John Dramani Mahama
President Mahama’s visit comes at a time of heightened anxiety in the region, where violent incidents have disrupted normal life in several communities. These tensions have often led to clashes between rival groups, leading to loss of life, destruction of property, and mass displacement of residents.
His message sought to calm nerves while reaffirming the government’s commitment to restoring law and order and facilitating reconciliation.
Traditional Leaders Appeal for Decisive Action
However, beyond the appeals for peace, traditional authorities are pressing for more decisive and lasting state interventions. At the same event, the President of the Oti Regional House of Chiefs, Nana Soglo Alloh IV, issued a stern call to government to take firmer steps to contain the situation.
He described the ongoing unrest as a national security concern that demands urgent and sustained attention. “Your Excellency, the region is currently experiencing serious ethnic and chieftaincy conflicts, and these are of national security concerns,” he said.
He identified specific flashpoints across the region, warning that unless national security agencies act proactively, the conflicts could spiral into larger-scale violence.
“There are pockets of ethnic violence in Nkwanta South constituency, chieftaincy conflicts in Pai Katanga and Kadjebi Akan constituency, and anticipated ethnic violence in Kpassa and its environment.
Oti Regional House of Chiefs, Nana Soglo Alloh IV
The chief emphasized the need for a permanent military base in the region to improve response times and bolster community confidence in the state’s ability to guarantee safety.
“We urgently need the attention of the national security to tackle these conflicts before they take different dimensions. We are also pleading with the government to establish a permanent military base in the region to be situated either in Dambai or in Nkwanta”.
Oti Regional House of Chiefs, Nana Soglo Alloh IV,
His call echoes similar concerns raised by local residents who have for months lived under the cloud of insecurity, with some communities reporting repeated disruptions to schooling, farming, and trading activities.
President’s Assurance
President Mahama assured the traditional leaders that their concerns have been heard and that the government will continue working closely with regional authorities to prevent further escalation. He reiterated that protecting lives and livelihoods remains a top priority of his administration.
While the pledges from both the President and traditional leaders reflect a shared desire for peace and development, the situation on the ground remains fragile.
The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the interventions promised will be timely and effective in restoring calm to Nkwanta and other troubled areas in the Oti Region.
As both government and traditional authorities seek to chart a path forward, the President’s reminder that “we are one and the same people” serves as both a plea and a challenge: that peace, however elusive, is a choice the people must collectively commit to—before more lives are lost.
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