Tamale — A total of 479 people have been displaced while at least 200 others, including women and children, have fled to neighbouring communities, for their dear lives, following the recent chieftaincy dispute in Wanchiki, a farming community in Chereponi District of the North East Region.
Additionally, a total of 27 houses were burnt down and 14 stores and shops, 15 shades, four motorcycles and three tricycles were destroyed in the conflict.
The North East Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Alhassan John Kwaku, who disclosed these to the Ghanaian Times, in a telephone interview, yesterday, mentioned Chereponi, Yunyoo, Nasua, Walgbani and Gbimboni as the communities providing refuge for them.
He said report on the affected persons had been taken and submitted to the headquarters of NADMO, in Accra, for the necessary actions.
"If actions are not taken promptly to support them, there could be food shortages in the communities," Mr Kwaku stated.
He said NADMO was liaising with the North East Regional Coordinating Council to get support for the victims.
Mr Kwaku, however, appealed to individuals and benevolent organisations to come to the aid of the victims.
It is recalled that at least four people lost their lives in a chieftaincy dispute in Wa.
Consequently, about 10 people were also arrested and had since been remanded in prison custody by the Yendi Circuit Court and they would appear again on March 9.
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The incident was said to have happened following an attempt by the Paramount Chief of Chereponi, to enskinned a chief of Nyangbangi, a farming community near Chereponi, but the Chief of Wanchiki, Naa Abuba, enskinned a different person for the people of Nyangbengi community.
This did not go down well with the rival faction of the Paramount Chief of Chereponi, which led to firing of gunshots in the community.
According to a native of Wanchiki, Abdul Nakok, who spoke to the Ghanaian Times in telephone interview, the issue as to who was the rightful chief to enskin the chief of Nyangbangi arouse.
He said the matter was taken to Nayiri, the Paramount Chief of Mamprugu Traditional Area, where they were directed to go to the Paramount Chief of Dagbon, Ndan Ya-Na for a solution.
