Keywords
Ethnic Conflict, Socio-economic effects, Northern Region, Ghana
Content Language
EN-US
Abstract
The article assesses the socio-economic and human repercussions of one of the fiercest ethnic conflicts in Ghana’s Northern Region on people and society. While Ghana remains a stable democracy, sporadic ethnic and chieftaincy conflicts have been a recurrent feature of the political process. Analyzing data from survey opinions and interviews from wide spectrum of respondents, the study noted that the Nawuri-Gonja conflicts have destroyed the fabric of the society leaving behind squalor, breakdown of healthcare, education and psychological trauma. Women and children have suffered rape assaults and unprecedented high rate of mortality due to malnourishments respectively. The plights of these vulnerable groups were worsened by hunger due to the destruction of agricultural activities, social services and infrastructure. The resultant fear and insecurity has driven government employees from the area. In conclusion, communities that live by stereotypes such as autochthony, acephalous, cephalous, minority and majority are prone to violence with grace consequences on populations and society, there should be policy change to reconfigure ethnic relationships.
Recommended Citation
Debrah, Emmanuel; Alidu, Seidu; and Owusu-Mensah, Isaac
(2016)
"The Cost of Inter-Ethnic Conflicts in Ghana’s Northern Region: The Case of the Nawuri-Gonja Conflicts,"
Journal of African Conflicts and Peace Studies:
Vol. 3:
Iss.
1, .
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/2325-484X.3.1.1068
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/jacaps/vol3/iss1/2
