Former Attorney General, Nii Ayikoi Otoo, has called for the establishment of a committee of enquiry to investigate the Gbenyiri feud, which has so far claimed 31 lives and displaced about 48,000 people.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, September 6, Mr. Otoo emphasised that the conflict is a serious national issue that requires urgent attention.

“What is happening there, I think we need a committee of enquiry to do a very serious matter of national importance. People are dying, and as you rightly pointed out, refugees are being created left and right. Like others have said, it will affect food and production in the area,” he noted.

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According to him, there is a need to secure the place to bring peace to the area by deploying the police to the grounds, adding that where the police struggled to contain the situation, the military should be deployed to restore calm.

“Whatever it is that is happening there, what far power do they have? Some single-barrel guns and arrests. So let’s move in and make sure that this thing is calm quickly. And then we set up a committee of enquiry to go into the matter. If they are chieftaincy and land issues, we deal with them once and for all,” he added.

On whether heavy security presence was still necessary given the mass displacement of residents, Mr Ayikoi Otoo maintained that it was vital for restoring confidence.

“Of course, if they are to stabilise the situation, why not? You have to bring calm to the area first. Give the people confidence that they can be protected by our security agencies. Then, even if you ask them to return, they can return, because some of them may have stories to tell if a committee is set up,” he noted.