The Paramount Chief of Bongo, Naba Baba Salifu Alemyaruun Atamale, has called for urgent intervention from the overlords of Dagbon, Mamprugu, Gonja, and Nanun to restore peace in Bawku and surrounding areas.

Speaking at the second edition of the Gbewa Homecoming Festival in Nalerigu, the Bongo Naba urged the warring factions to avoid entrenching their positions, emphasizing compromise and dialogue as paths to lasting peace.

“I appeal to my father, the Nayiri, the Ndan Ya-Na, Bimibila Na, and the Yagbonwura to find a lasting solution to the Bawku issue,” he stated, warning of the developmental setbacks caused by the chieftaincy conflict.

“If there’s no peace in Bawku, then we don’t have peace across the Gbewa fraternity,” he lamented, adding that silence or inaction would make him “a coward” as someone from the affected region.

The Chief condemned the misuse of social media, particularly TikTok and Facebook, to fuel tensions. He urged the youth to refrain from inflammatory posts, stressing, “Let’s minimise how we address issues on social media. Silence can often be more constructive.”

Naba Alemyaruun also pledged loyalty to the Nayiri, urging that the next homecoming event be held in the Bongo Traditional Area.

Festival Promotes Unity Amid Regional Challenges

The Gbewa Homecoming Festival, organized by the Mamprugu Youth Association (MAYA), celebrates the cultural ties of descendants of Gbewa across Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Togo.

This year’s theme, “Promoting Cultural Identity, Education, and Political Participation: The Role of Indigenous Languages in Shaping Democratic Governance,” resonated deeply amid ongoing regional conflicts.

The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, represented by North East Regional Minister Yidana Zakaria, expressed gratitude for the region’s electoral support.

He donated GH¢60,000 to the event and promised to safeguard state assets until the official transition of power on January 7.

The Ya Na’s representative, the Paramount Chief of Diyali, called for stricter measures to curb youth drug peddling, describing it as a threat to the region’s future.

The festival also saw the launch of the Harmonized Mampruli Autography to preserve the Mampruli language and the inauguration of the Nayiri Educational Endowment Fund Board of Trustees.

Distinguished individuals were recognised under the Gbewa Excellence Awards Scheme.

The next Gbewa Homecoming will be held in Yendi, the capital of the Great Dagbon Kingdom.