Source Citinewsroom
News Ghana
Gbiniyiri Chief’s Palace burnt amid escalating land dispute in Savannah Region
Tensions in the farming community of Gbiniyiri in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District have escalated further as the chief’s palace has been set ablaze amid ongoing violent clashes linked to a deepening land dispute.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, August 26, follows a wave of deadly violence that has already claimed six lives and left 18 others injured. The destruction of the chief’s palace marks a significant escalation in the conflict, which began over a contested parcel of land allegedly sold by the chief to a private developer.
The initial violence erupted on Sunday, August 24, when five individuals were killed in clashes between residents and individuals linked to the land transaction. Another person was fatally shot the following morning, bringing the death toll to six. Eighteen others, many in critical condition, are being treated for gunshot and machete wounds.
The unrest has forced hundreds of residents, particularly women and children, to flee Gbiniyiri and nearby communities. Several homes and properties have been torched or destroyed in the violence, which local authorities fear could spread if not quickly contained.
 |
| Disputed land |
Security agencies have deployed a joint police and military task force to the area, but the scattered nature of the communities poses logistical challenges.
The District Security Council (DISEC), in collaboration with the regional command, is intensifying patrols and working with traditional leaders to de-escalate the situation. Authorities are urging calm and calling for dialogue between the feuding parties.
