The President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, has raised concerns about the resurgence of chieftaincy and ethnic conflicts across the country, warning that the growing instability threatens Ghana’s unity and development.
Speaking at the 2025 Plenary Assembly of the Conference in Damongo on Monday, November 10, 2025, Most Rev. Gyamfi lamented that long-standing conflicts, particularly in northern Ghana, continue to undermine peace and destroy livelihoods.
“Persistent chieftaincy and ethnic conflicts continue to disturb the peace of several regions. The Bawku crisis remains one of the most devastating, claiming between 200 and 300 lives since hostilities resumed in late 2021,” he said.
He explained that repeated violence in these areas has crippled essential services such as education, healthcare, and trade.
“Schools, hospitals, and markets have repeatedly closed, paralysing social and economic life. Beyond Bawku, flashpoints such as Yendi, Bimbilla, Nkonya–Alavanyo, and Doba–Kandiga have also witnessed recurring clashes,” he added.
Most Rev. Gyamfi also highlighted the humanitarian consequences of these conflicts, noting that many families have been displaced while others have fled to neighbouring communities and countries for safety.
“The humanitarian toll is grave, families have been torn apart, many displaced, and others forced to seek refuge across borders. Since 2022, over 15,000 asylum seekers from Burkina Faso have crossed into northern Ghana to escape terrorist attacks in the Sahel. Despite their own economic struggles, local communities have shown remarkable generosity with little external support,” he noted.
The GCBC President called for a collective effort by government, traditional leaders, and religious bodies to address the root causes of these conflicts, stressing that true peace can only be achieved through justice and compassion.
“These realities remind us that peace cannot exist without justice, and security cannot endure without compassion,” he stressed.
