The Gonjaland Youth Association (GLYA) in a press conference on September 9, 2025 has strongly condemned remarks made by Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, regarding the recent conflict in Gbiniyiri, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba.
Dr. Boakye-Danquah’s call for a total state of emergency in the entire Savannah Region and his claim that “it is the Gonja guys that are doing this… they have rifles, they have ammunition” have sparked outrage among the Gonja community.
According to the GLYA, these comments are “misleading, inflammatory, and unfair,” distorting the true nature and history of the conflict. The association asserts that the Gbiniyiri conflict began as a local dispute between two individuals from the Brifo-Lobi community, which was being addressed through traditional processes led by the Gbiniyiri chief. However, a violent and coordinated attack on the Gbiniyiri Chief’s palace resulted in the killing of three unarmed Gonja youth.
The Gonjaland Youth Association demands that Dr. Boakye-Danquah provides credible and verifiable evidence to support his claims about Gonjas possessing rifles and ammunition. They also want him to explain the rationale behind his call for a state of emergency across the entire Savannah Region, which they believe risks destabilizing the area and escalating tensions.
“If he fails to provide evidence, we demand an immediate retraction of his comments and a formal public apology to the people of Gonjaland,” said Al-Hassan Baba Darison, National President of GLYA.
The GLYA highlighted the historical context of the Brifo-Lobi people in Gonjaland, who fled persecution in French-ruled Côte d’Ivoire a century ago and were granted refuge by Yagbonwura Mahama Dagbonga, then King and Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom. Despite disregard for agreements in later years, the Gonja people have remained committed to peace.
“The Gonja people are proud descendants of Sumaila Ndewura Jakpa, a leader whose legacy of courage, unity, and justice remains our guiding light. But let no one mistake our peaceful nature for weakness. We will always rise lawfully and resolutely to defend our people, our dignity, and our ancestral lands,” Al-Hassan Baba Darison emphasized.
The GLYA reminds public figures that words carry immense weight in times of conflict and tension. Irresponsible public commentary can derail peace efforts, polarize communities, and endanger lives. They urge leaders to promote truth, accountability, and justice, working together to restore peace through dialogue, fairness, and mutual respect.
The Association sang a phrase from the Gonja anthem, which says, “Any stranger that comes to settle on our land will be upheld in dignity, and it should be a mark on us,” to demonstrate the Gonjas’ accommodating nature and commitment to peaceful coexistence with strangers settling on their land.
