The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has appealed to parties involved in the protracted communal conflicts in Bawku and Kalba-Gbinyiri to abandon violence and pursue dialogue, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence as the basis for restoring stability in the affected communities.
The Bishops warned that recurring communal hostilities in parts of the country continued to endanger human lives, disrupt economic activities, weaken social cohesion and pose threats to national security, while obstructing efforts towards sustainable development.
Although acknowledging a recent decline in violent incidents in the affected areas, the religious leaders cautioned that the relative calm must be sustained through deliberate interventions, mutual understanding and a genuine commitment by all parties to peaceful conflict resolution.
“While acknowledging the recent reduction in violence in these areas, we urge all parties to exercise restraint, renounce violence and embrace dialogue, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence,” the Conference stated.
The Bishops also called for the comprehensive and impartial implementation of recommendations contained in the report addressing the Kalba-Gbinyiri conflict, cautioning against selective execution of its proposals or unnecessary delays in carrying out the prescribed measures.
“We particularly call for the full and faithful implementation of the recommendations contained in the relevant report on the Kalba-Gbinyiri conflict, without selective application or undue delay,” the communiqué stated.
The appeal was contained in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the Conference’s annual Plenary Assembly, held from November 3 to 14, 2026, at the Divine Providence Pastoral Centre in Jamasi, within the Konongo-Mampong Diocese of the Ashanti Region.
In outlining the conditions necessary for a durable settlement, the Bishops emphasised that ending violent confrontations alone would not guarantee lasting peace. They said sustainable reconciliation must be supported by justice, mutual recognition, confidence-building initiatives and adequate protection for every community affected by the disputes.
They consequently encouraged traditional authorities, community leaders and other stakeholders to prioritise constructive engagement, address longstanding grievances and pursue mutually acceptable solutions to the issues underlying the conflicts.
The Conference’s intervention also highlighted the importance of ensuring that recommendations arising from mediation processes translate into practical measures capable of restoring trust and preventing further confrontations.
Call for implementation of Kalba-Gbinyiri mediation recommendations
The Bishops’ appeal comes against the background of mediation efforts undertaken by the government to resolve tensions between the Lobi and Birifor communities and their Gonja counterparts in the Savannah Region.
In February 2026, the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, received the final report of the Gbinyiri Mediation Committee, which had been established to facilitate dialogue and address the longstanding disagreements between the affected communities.
The committee was constituted in September 2025 following renewed confrontations in parts of the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba area, with a mandate to promote cooperation, restore confidence and establish conditions for peaceful coexistence.
The Bishops’ demand for the report’s recommendations to be implemented fully and without unnecessary delays places renewed emphasis on the government’s responsibility to translate the mediation process into concrete action.
Their intervention also reinforces the need for sustained cooperation among government institutions, traditional authorities, religious organisations and community representatives in addressing the underlying causes of the disputes.
The Conference maintained that lasting stability in Bawku and Kalba-Gbinyiri would depend on a collective willingness to reject violence, uphold justice and build relationships that allow the affected communities to coexist peacefully.
