One person has been shot dead while another has been injured in northern Gonja of Savannah Region in a scuffle between traditional warriors and an owner of a stray goat.
The goat owner, who was shot dead, and the warrior are all in the Damongo Government Hospital for autopsy and treatment respectively.
The scuffle ensued when two chiefs, one from Daboya in the Savannah Region and the other from Janga in the North-East Region, were claiming ownership and control over Kutula.
Narrating on 3FM’s Sunrise on Monday on what brought about the shooting, the Savannah Regional Minister, Saeed Muhazu Jibril, said “the issue happened in a village called Kutula in the North Gonja District where the people are predominantly Mamprusis”.
“The people are in Kutula Traditional Area…they are Mamprugu and they want to be part of Maprugu District in the North-East Region because they trace their tribe from the North-East,” he explained to Sunrise host Alfred Ocansey.
“Because of their tribal lineage, they want to belong to the North-East Region and not the Savannah Region but because of the creation of the new regions, they are now in the Savannah Regions”.
Mr. Muhazu Jibril added: “That portion of the land belongs to over six traditional areas,” explaining that “the Mempasem chief died and per their tradition, they must kill any stray animal they see loitering”.
“The Mamprugu people went to perform the funeral rites of the late chief and as they were going for the funeral, as per their tradition, any stray animal that will be seen must be killed.”
He explained that “few metres to the funeral ground, they saw a stray goat and so they wanted to kill this animal, but unfortunately the owner showed up and resisted so that the animal would not disturb”.
The Minister said “the owner of the goat rushed to his room, brought out a gun and shot one of the warriors in the arm”.
Mr. Muhazu Jibril added that warriors also retaliated by shooting the owner of the goat, thereby killing him instantly.
Atmosphere
The Ministry said “we sent the police and military from North-East and Savannah Regions to the place to ensure calm and also protect lives and property”.
“The body of the deceased has been brought to Damongo Hospital for autopsy before the body will be released for burial and the warrior who sustained the gunshot wounds is also being treated at the same hospital.”
Boundary dispute resolution
The Regional Minister said in order to resolve the dispute between the factions, “a ten-member committee, involving five from each region, has been established to look into the matter and come out with a solution”.
By Kweku Antwi-Otoo|3news.com|Ghana