The Gbinyiri Mediation Committee, inaugurated only three days ago by the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has wasted no time in commencing its work, setting in motion a detailed roadmap aimed at restoring lasting peace to the Gbinyiri area and its conflict-affected surroundings.
In a press release issued on Thursday, September 11, 2025, the Committee disclosed that its immediate task has been to design an inclusive process that involves broad consultations with stakeholders, rather than rushing into negotiations on contentious issues such as land.
According to the statement, the body’s role is not to arbitrate land ownership disputes but to prepare a platform where communities can engage constructively and heal from years of mistrust and displacement.
“The Committee is actively engaging chiefs, elders, community leaders, civil society organisations, religious leaders, women and youth associations, and other voices of reason,” the statement outlined.
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These consultations, it explained, are laying the foundation for bilateral stakeholder dialogues as well as a wider intercommunal dialogue in the weeks ahead.
At the heart of the mediation effort is the return of displaced populations.
The Committee highlighted that thousands of refugees who fled to Ghana’s borders with Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, as well as internally displaced persons uprooted from their homes, deserve the opportunity to return in dignity and safety.
“The return of sustainable peace between people who have co-existed for more than a century is the main focus,” the release stressed.
The Committee further appealed to all Ghanaians to embody national solidarity and support the people of Gbinyiri during this delicate process.
It cautioned individuals, organisations, and associations against making public statements or circulating social media content that could inflame tensions or undermine the fragile calm being built.
In particular, media houses, journalists, bloggers, and online platforms were reminded of their ethical responsibility to uphold conflict-sensitive journalism.
“Peace is not built in a day,” the Committee noted, “but with tolerance, restraint, and collective responsibility, Gbinyiri can once again become a place where neighbours live side by side in harmony.”
Expressions of gratitude were also extended to chiefs, elders, and community leaders whose measured leadership has calmed tempers and reduced friction in recent days.
Security personnel deployed to the area were equally commended for their tireless commitment to maintaining order and ensuring that violence does not flare up again.
The Committee concluded with a strong message that tolerance must guide every action going forward.
“Above all, we must choose non-violent means to address our grievances so that together we can secure a peace that endures for generations,” the release declared.
The Gbinyiri Mediation Committee is chaired by Emmanuel Habuka Bombande, with members including Alhaji Collins Dauda, Rev. Fr. Lazarus Annyereh, Dr. Festus Aubyn, Sylvia Horname Noagbesenu Esq., Prof. Ramatu Alhassan, and Dr. George Amoh, who also serves as Secretary.
Below is a copy of the statement
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
