Peace building and conflict management: A case Study of Alavanyo and Nkonya conflict

Abstract

Conflicts arise in many communities but if they are managed properly they are able to bring peace, which is prerequisite for development. Conflict is an active disagreement between people with opposing opinions or principles.In Ghana, there are land conflicts, chieftaincy conflicts, religious conflicts, and political conflicts among others.This research is about the Alavanyo and Nkonya conflict which startedin 1923 over a prime forest land with rich timber species, bamboo and colanuts. The conflict has arisen from an 80 year old boundary disputes betweenthe Nkonya, a Guan group and the Alavanyo, an Ewe group both in the VoltaRegion of Ghana.A cross-sectional survey design was used to carry out the study. The basic instruments used were questionnaires and in-depth interview. The questionnaires were administered in some selected communities in Alavanyo and Nkonya. Traditional leaders, District Chief Executives and opinion leaders were interviewed because of time constraint.The research has found out that the main occupations in the two towns were mainly farming, hunting, trading and some civil servants. The majority(83%) of the respondents reported that the conflict occurred because the areais a fertile land for farming and lumbering activities. There had been military and police interventions, court adjudication, and peace building methods involving stakeholders.It is recommended that Government and the various Metropolitan,Municipal and District Assemblies should set up Peace and Reconciliation committees in their various areas.