Minister slams conflicts in Northern Region

Mr Mohammed Limuna-Muniru, Northern Regional Minister, has advised chiefs and traditional leaders, to play their role to stop conflicts in the region.

He said the chiefs and traditional leaders should also provide the necessary environment to encourage and motivate people to overcome obstacles that may arise along the way to growth and development in the communities.

Mr Limuna-Muniru gave the advice during an annual general meeting of the Regional House of Chiefs which was held in Tamale.

He stated that each and everyone should be deeply concerned about the conflicts, especially in the region.

“Conflicts do not profit anyone. We need to eschew divisive tendencies and to expose the few miscreants who are bent on sowing seeds of discord in the region irrespective of their ethnic affiliation,” he said.

The Minister also condemned force or early child marriage as part of the customs and tradition, especially in the region.

He urged the chiefs and traditional leaders to find a way to ensure that the girl-child is not forced into marriage to the detriment of her education.

Mr Limuna-Muniru also called on the members of the house to stop selling lands which have been given to the state for development.

Na Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, President of the Regional House of Chiefs, condemned the frequent conflicts, he said leads to violence.

He asked the security personnel to be fair and firm in dealing with such crimes.

He called on his colleagues to take very bold decisions and support the security urgencies to deal with miscreants in the region.

He said members of the house should also be mindful of how they give out lands to developers and advised against projects sited on waterways, which contributes to floods.

Most Reverend Philip Naameh, Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale and Chairman of the Regional Peace Council said the body would collaborate with the chiefs and traditional leaders to prevent manage and resolve conflicts.

He added that the Council was very committed to strengthening their partnership and resolve with Chiefs in order to prevent conflicts from escalating into violence by also engaging all the actors in the various conflict cases.