The Ghana Police Service has deployed additional reinforcement teams to Sawla, Gbiniyiri, Giniri, and surrounding communities in the Savannah Region after recent communal clashes.
The move, undertaken in collaboration with the Ghana Armed Forces and other security stakeholders, is aimed at restoring calm and ensuring the safety of residents.
Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, is personally leading a high-level team from the National Police Headquarters to assess the situation. The delegation is also engaging chiefs, opinion leaders, and community stakeholders in dialogue to promote lasting peace.
The Police have appealed to all parties involved to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies in safeguarding stability in the area.
Background:
The recent police deployments in parts of the Savannah Region were triggered by violent communal clashes stemming from a protracted land dispute in Gbeniyiri, a farming community in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District.
On the night of Sunday, August 24, 2025, tensions escalated into an exchange of gunfire between rival factions, resulting in the deaths of at least five people and leaving six seriously injured.
By Monday, August 25, the death toll had risen to ten, with twelve others injured. The violence had become so severe that residents fled their homes, and many sought refuge in nearby bushes or sheltered at the local police station. Even with initial deployments of police and military personnel, the conflict continued.
Immediate Response and Security Reinforcements
In response to the escalating violence, REGSEC convened an emergency meeting and took the following actions:
- Directed the District Security Council (DISEC) to dispatch relief supplies to displaced residents, with NADMO delivering essentials like water and temporary shelter, and the Ghana Red Cross supplying tents.
- Arranged a joint mediation meeting in Damongo, bringing together the warring parties and key stakeholders, to try to quell tensions and restore peace.
- Continued to reinforce security deployments, maintaining a visible and sustained presence of police and military personnel to protect lives and property as mediation progressed.
Summary:
the deadly gun battles over land in Gbeniyiri triggered a swift security and humanitarian response. Monday’s deployment of reinforcement teams in Sawla, Gbiniyiri, Giniri, and surrounding areas reflects national efforts to restore calm, protect residents, and prevent further escalation.
By Peter Quao Adattor
