Ghana: Information on violence between members of the Konkomba and Nunumba ethnic groups in February 1994, particularly in Adibo village, and the government attitude to this violence
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GHA17486.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ghana: Information on violence between members of the Konkomba and Nunumba ethnic groups in February 1994, particularly in Adibo village, and the government attitude to this violence, 1 May 1994, GHA17486.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac854.html [accessed 23 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Specific information on the violence between the Konkomba and Nunumba ethnic groups in Adibo village in February 1994 could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB in Ottawa. However, please refer to the attached documents reporting on the fighting between members of these two groups in the Northern Region of Ghana during the same period of time.
The fighting started in the Bimbila district of the Northern Region on 3 February 1994 (Africa Research Bulletin 21 Mar. 1994, 11342; Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Radio Network 4 Feb. 1994; Keesing's Feb. 1994, 39848). It was triggered by a dispute in a market in Napayili (Bimbila) between a Konkomba and a Nunumba over the price of a guinea fowl (ibid; Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Radio Network 4 Feb. 1994). One of the root causes of the violence is believed to be the Kokomba's demands for land and a paramount chief to oversee their tribal and social affairs (IPS 29 Mar. 1994; Keesing's Feb. 1994, 39848; Reuters 22 Apr. 1994).
The dispute led to clashes between the two ethnic groups, and these clashes spread across northern Ghana and engulfed other tribes (Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Radio Network 4 Feb. 1994; Reuters 14 Feb. 1994). The violence reportedly claimed more than 1,000 lives and displaced 150,000 persons (IPS 21 Apr. 1994; Reuters 22 Apr. 1994). According to several press reports, numerous villages have been completely burnt, and those few that have not been burnt have been deserted (BBC 12 Feb. 1994; IPS 29 Mar. 1994). A BBC report indicated that almost all villages along the Salaga-Bimbila-Yendi road have been destroyed and corpses were lying along the road between Bakpaba and Adibo (12 Feb. 1994). The report did not provide further details on the fate of Adibo village.
To restore law and order, the government declared on 10 February 1994 a state of emergency in seven areas of the Northern Region where the fighting was taking place (Africa Research Bulletin 21 Mar. 1994, 11342; Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Radio Network 10 Feb. 1994). These areas are the municipality of Tamale and the districts of Saboba Chereponi, Yendi, Zabzugu Tatali, Nanumba, Gushiago Karaga and East Gonja (ibid). According to an official source, in mid-February 1994, the military was gradually regaining control of the situation in the regional capital, Tamale, and has started disarming the warring factions (PANA 17 Feb. 1994; Reuters 16 Feb. 1994). However, the Ghanaian press reported that the troops sent to the areas engaged in the fighting to disarm the rival tribes did not dare to venture into the bush and, thus, were considerably hampered in their operations (AFP 3 Mar. 1994; IPS 21 Mar. 1994; Xinhua 21 Mar. 1994).
IPS reported, that in mid-April 1994, the government sent a delegation to hold separate talks with leaders of the warring factions in the capital, Accra (21 Apr. 1994). As a result, the leaders of the Konkombas and Nunumbas agreed to "renounce violence," to "tour unrest areas to talk peace to their people and meet again at an unspecified date" (Reuters 12 Apr. 1994).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Africa Research Bulletin: Political Series [London]. 21 March 1994. Vol. 31, No. 2. "Ghana: State of Emergency."
Agence France Presse (AFP). 3 March 1994. "Army Kills 11 in Northern Ghana Clashes." (NEXIS)
BBC World Service [London]. 12 February 1994. "Officials Begin to Assess Aftermath of Violence." (FBIS-AFR-94-030 14 Feb. 1994, p. 23)
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Radio Network [Accra]. 10 February 1994. "State of Emergency Declared in 7 Areas in North." (FBIS-AFR-94-030 14 Feb. 1994, p. 23)
. 4 February 1994. "Renewed Fighting in Bimbila Reported 4 Feb." (FBIS-AFR-94-026 8 Feb. 1994, p. 24)
Inter Press Service (IPS). 21 April 1994. "Ghana-Peace: Elections Go Ahead." (NEXIS)
. 21 April 1994. Ddevine Kkoblak. "Ghana-Politics: Ethnic Violence Area Still Volatile." (NEXIS)
. 29 March 1994. "Ghana-Peace: Frantic Moves to Stop Ethnic Violence." (NEXIS)
Keesing's Recorld of World Events [Cambridge]. February 1994. Vol 40, No. 2. "Ghana: Ethnic Clashes." PANA [Dakar]. 17 February 1994. "Official Reports About 1,000 Dead in Ethnic Clashes." (FBIS-AFR-94-034 18 Feb. 1994, p. 23)
Reuters. 22 April 1994. Nicolas Kotch. "Landless Ghanaian Tribe Sparks Bloody Turf War." (NEXIS)
. 12 April 1994. Nicholas Kotch. "Tribal Leaders in Northern Ghana Renounce Violence." (NEXIS)
. 16 February 1994. "1,000 Corpses Buried from Ghana Fighting." (NEXIS)
. 14 February 1994. Harry Mouzalas. "More Than 500 Killed in Ghana Fighting." (NEXIS)
The Xinhua General Overseas News Service. 21 March 1994. "Warring Factions in Ghana Surrender Weapons." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Africa Research Bulletin: Political Series [London]. 21 March 1994. Vol. 31, No. 2. "Ghana: State of Emergency," p. 11342.
Agence France Presse (AFP). 3 March 1994. "Army Kills 11 in Northern Ghana Clashes." (NEXIS)
BBC World Service [London]. 12 February 1994. "Officials Begin to Assess Aftermath of Violence." (FBIS-AFR-94-030 14 Feb. 1994, p. 23)
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Radio Network [Accra]. 10 March 1994. "Fighting Reportedly Raging in Northern Region." (FBIS-AFR-94-048 11 Mar. 1994, p. 24)
. 24 February 1994. "Renewed Fighting Reported in Northern Region." (FBIS-AFR-94-038 25 Feb. 1994, p. 12)
. 10 February 1994. "State of Emergency Declared in 7 Areas in North." (FBIS-AFR-94-030 14 Feb. 1994, p. 23)
. 7 February 1994. "Committee Assures Residents of Security in Tamale." (FBIS-AFR-94-026 8 Feb. 1994, pp. 24-25)
. 4 February 1994. "Renewed Fighting in Bimbila Reported 4 Feb." (FBIS-AFR-94-026, 8 Feb. 1994, p. 24)
Inter Press Service (IPS). 21 April 1994."Ghana-Peace: Elections Go Ahead." (NEXIS)
. 29 March 1994. "Ghana-Peace: Frantic Moves to Stop Ethnic Violence." (NEXIS)
. 23 March 1994. Elvis Afum. "Ghana: Politics: Konkombas Accuse Army of Brutality." (NEXIS)
. 10 February 1994. Edward Ameyibor. "Ghana: Politics: Ethnic Violates Erupts, Emergency Declared." (NEXIS)
Keesing's Recorld of World Events [Cambridge]. February 1994. Vol. 40 , No. 2. "Ghana: Ethnic Clashes," p. 39848.
PANA [Dakar]. 17 February 1994. "Official Reports About 1,000 Dead in Ethnic Clashes." (FBIS-AFR-94-034 18 Feb. 1994, 23)
Reuters. 22 April 1994. Nicolas Kotch. "Landless Ghanaian Tribe Sparks Bloody Turf War." (NEXIS)
. 12 April 1994. Nicholas Kotch. "Tribal Leaders in Northern Ghana Renounce Violence." (NEXIS)
. 16 February 1994. "1,000 Corpses Buried From Ghana Fighting." (NEXIS)
. 14 February 1994. Harry Mouzalas. "More Than 500 Killed in Ghana Fighting." (NEXIS)
West Africa [London]. 4-10 April 1994. Alfred Owusu Frimpong. "The Konkomba Factor," pp. 590-91.
. 4-10 April 1994. John Asiedu. "Facts on Konkomba," p. 576.
The Xinhua General Overseas News Service. 21 March 1994. "Warring Factions in Ghana Surrender Weapons." (NEXIS)
