Abstract
A Conflict can be resolved when there is an adequate understanding of its causes. The objective of this study is to contribute to the understanding of the contributory factors of the Bawku chieftaincy conflict as a case study and explore the lasting solutions to the conflict which contributes to the political, cultural, and socio-economic development. The study surveyed 200 householders using systematic and snow-balling in five spatial locations in the Bawku Traditional Area. Subsequently, face-to-face interviews were conducted with the Traditional Authorities, the Police, and the Belim-Wusa Development Agency to verify the claims made in the survey and to obtain further insights into the conflict. The responses obtained from the interviews were analyzed for patterns and themes and used as narratives in the work. The geographical location and socio-economic activities such as population growth, farming, and poverty have made the Bawku Traditional Area more prone to persistent conflicts. Again, other contributory factors included; political interference, freedom from fear, a proliferation of small arms, and inadequate access to social services. The empirical findings support the proposition that political interventions sowed the seed of the Bawku conflict. The study recommended that the National Peace Council should organize a workshop to educate the political parties on the need to stay away from chieftaincy matters.
Highlights
Conflict is defined as a struggle between two or more people over value, status, power, and resources come unsurprisingly as a consequence of human interactions in which the aims of the parties are to gain the desired outcomes and to get rid of their rivals (Coser, 1956 as cited in Tona & Anamzoya, 2016)
This study argues that political interventions sowed the seed of the Bawku conflict
The section begins with a profile of the Bawku Traditional Area (BTA) to provide the baseline data and establishes the context for understanding the dynamics of the Bawku conflict
Summary
Conflict is defined as a struggle between two or more people over value, status, power, and resources come unsurprisingly as a consequence of human interactions in which the aims of the parties are to gain the desired outcomes and to get rid of their rivals (Coser, 1956 as cited in Tona & Anamzoya, 2016). Conflicts have been known to be associated with several countries across the globe. African countries have gotten their fair share mostly in Angola, Congo, Egypt, Liberia, Morocco, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Uganda (Olaosebikan, 2010). Ghana has been described worldwide as the center of peace in Sub-Saharan Africa. Various examples show that violent conflicts occur from time to time. The most common example of these conflicts is the Bawku chieftaincy conflict. There were skirmishes in 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, and 2009. The Nairobi Peace Initiative (NPI) has organized several reconciliation workshops for the two feuding parties. The central research question is this; what factors and circumstances are accountable for violent conflicts in the Bawku Traditional Area (BTA)?
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