The Chairman of the seven-member mediation committee, Emmanuel Bombande, says the one-month mandate given to the committee is critical in restoring calm and setting the foundation for lasting peace in Gbenyiri in the Savannah region.

He said the immediate focus within the first four weeks will be to facilitate the safe return of displaced persons and to design a community-driven dialogue framework that can sustain reconciliation efforts.

“In this one-month span, the emphasis is on securing the return of communities. If all displaced persons can go back safely, that will be a strong start. At the same time, we are working with communities to shape how the dialogue will happen. By the end of the four weeks, we expect clarity on the process and what it means in terms of future timelines,” Bombande said in an interview on Joy FM’s Newsnight on September 8, 2025.

Government sets up mediation committee to resolve Gbenyiri conflict

The security expert, added that mediation, rather than commissions of inquiry, offers the best chance of achieving trust and genuine reconciliation among conflicting parties.

His comments follow the inauguration of the mediation committee by the interior minister, Mubarak Mohammed-Muntaka, with a mandate to resolve the conflict within one month.

The clashes, which began on August 23, 2025, in Gbenyiri in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District, have spread to nearby villages, resulting in several deaths, destruction of property, and the displacement of about 50,000 people.

Gbenyiri Conflict: Four confirmed dead at Wenchi camp

MRA/VPO

Will Ghana pass the Anti-Witchcraft Bill? Find out in the latest episode of The Lowdown on GhanaWeb TV in this conversation with Amnesty International: