Ghana: Information on the Konkomba Youth Association (KYA): its founders, mandate, activities and treatment of its members by other tribal groups, particularly attacks and killings of KTA members in Adibo on 3 November 2000; update to GHA24280.E of 25 June 1996
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 17 October 2001 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GHA37875.E |
| Reference | 4 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ghana: Information on the Konkomba Youth Association (KYA): its founders, mandate, activities and treatment of its members by other tribal groups, particularly attacks and killings of KTA members in Adibo on 3 November 2000; update to GHA24280.E of 25 June 1996 , 17 October 2001, GHA37875.E , available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be354.html [accessed 19 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. |
A paper written by a professor at the University of Ghana published by the Pan African Anthropological Association (PAAA) describes the Konkomba Youth Association as being the leader of a campaign to empower the Konkomba to "develop chiefship" (1999). No further information on the Konkomba Youth Association could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
However, the following excerpt from a report published by the European Platform for Conflict Prevention and Transformation in September 1999 provides background information on the situation of the Konkomba in Ghana:
The roots of the conflicts in northern Ghana are complex and interwoven. Moreover accounts of the origins of conflicts vary among the different ethnic groups. The major points of contention, however, lie in disputes over land rights and political representation. Land rights are ultimately vested in the paramount chief on behalf of the ethnic group. Members of other ethnic groups who live on the land of a chief are expected to live by his or her rules and to show respect or allegiance, sometimes in the form of gifts.
Since British colonial rule, paramount chieftaincy has also been the prerequisite for a seat in the Northern and National Houses of Chiefs, and thus for significant political representation. However, only four ethnic groups, the Dagomba, Nanumba, Gonja and Mamprusi, have paramount chiefs. The other ethnic groups, such as the Konkomba, Nchumuru and Nawuri, have always been headless', or acephalous. The Konkomba for example, orginally came from Togo and migrated to Ghana in the early twentieth century. They are generally farmers and often move from one geographical area to another in search of fertile land. Instead of a system of paramount chieftaincy, where the community is governed by several chiefs and headed by a paramount chief, they have a non-centralised political system without secular leaders.
Nevertheless, the Konkomba and other acephalous groups have long claimed they should be entitled to the same political rights as paramount chieftaincy groups. To them, the current system is the unacceptable result of ancient rules. Since all the land belongs to chiefs, Konkomba are forced to live on foreign' land. Their refusal to respect the foreign chief's rule has often led to disputes.
The above-cited report also provides a description of youth associations in
Ghana:
Youth Associations have a long tradition in northern Ghana. They are ethnically or regionally based and are formed by politically active opinion leaders'. Though their name suggests otherwise, age does not play a role in the Youth Organisations' membership. As a body of politically engaged people, Youth Organisations often function as representatives of their community at the national level.
No mention of any attacks or killings in Adibo on 3 November 2000 could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
European Platform for Conflict Prevention and Transformation, Utrecht. September 1999. Emmy Toonen. "Ghana: Mediating a Way Out of Complex Ethnic Conflicts."
Pan African Anthropological Association (PAAA), Yaounde. 1999. Abayie Boaten. "Ethnicity and Ethnic Conflicts in Africa: Ghana's Example."
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases
Africa Confidential 1999-2001
Africa Research Bulletin 1999-2001
Africa South of the Sahara. 2000.
Europa World Year Book 2000.
IRIN
Keesings Record of World Events 1999-2001.
NEXIS
Political Handbook of the World 1998-1999.
US Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 1998-2000.
West Africa
WNC
Youth Movements of the World
Internet sites including:
AllAfrica.com
Amnesty International
BBC
Ghana News
GhanaInfo.com
GhanaWeb.com
Human Rights Watch
