Bimbilla clashes: Lawlessness to blame – Security analyst

The renewed chieftaincy clashes at Bimbilla in the Northern Region could be blamed on the disregard for the law by people in the area, Nana Owusu Sekyere, a security expert, has said.

According to him, the clash has demonstrated that people in the area have disregarded measures put in place years ago to prevent a flare-up of the conflict.

The Northern Regional Police PRO, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh, on Thursday February 9 said gunshots had been heard in Bimbilla in the Northern Region. He said the exchange of gunfire was in connection with a chieftaincy rivalry. A school in the area was shut down as a result of the unrest while a house had been torched.

Information about the incident remained sketchy but authorities said a joint security force comprising police and army men had been deployed to the area to quell any disturbances.

Minister of Defence and MP for the area Dominic Nitiwul also told Class News that he was dealing with the situation.

Speaking in an interview with Emefa Apawu on Class91.3FM’s 505 programme on Thursday, Mr Sekyere said: “I think this is a clear case of our inability to get over the hurdle of chieftaincy disputes every now and then. I have followed quite a while on these chieftaincy issues in the Northern Region and especially where you are talking about right now.

“There is clearly some feud going on with respect to two different factions that each are contesting for that position of sub-chief. So, then, I would have thought that they would amicably have solved that dispute or difference before they will together try and install a sub-chief that they all have agreed upon.

“We are beginning to be more lawless than ever when it comes to the issue of chieftaincy.”