By: Ashiadey Dotse
The Executive Director of the Africa Center for Security and Counterterrorism, Emmanuel Kotin, says the one-month timeline given to the committee set up to mediate the Gbiniyiri conflict in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba district is not enough to achieve lasting peace.
Mr. Kotin in an interview on GTV’s ‘Focus‘ show on Wednesday September 10, 2025, said peacebuilding is a long and patient process, and rushing it within a month will only scratch the surface of the problem. He stressed that the Gbiniyiri conflict has deep historical roots and cannot be solved through quick, top-down interventions.
“This one-month timeline is woefully inadequate. Peacebuilding requires time, commitment, and the involvement of the people directly affected. If we rush it, we risk prescribing the wrong medicine to the conflict,” Mr. Kotin said.
He explained that the conflict goes beyond just land disputes, as it is tied to long-standing community grievances. He believes that political or elite-driven solutions often fail because they lack legitimacy in the eyes of the feuding groups and are easily disrupted by changes in government.
Mr. Kotin called for a community-led approach where traditional leaders and local structures take ownership of the process. “The best solution must come from within the affected communities. When locals are part of the dialogue, the peace achieved will be lasting,” he added.
He further warned that imposing solutions from the national level could create a cycle of temporary peace that collapses with time. Instead, he urged government to strengthen indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms and support grassroots dialogue.
Mr. Kotin concluded by stressing that sustainable peace in Gbiniyiri and other conflict-prone areas of the north will require long-term investment in dialogue, poverty reduction, and youth empowerment.
The conflict has seenover 13,000 Ghanaians cross into neighboring Côte d’Ivoire following violent clashes over land in the Gbiniyiri area of the Savannah Region.
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