Six months after the Gbeniyiri conflict, which claimed about 38 lives and left several others injured across Gbeniyiri, Kalba and parts of Bole in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba and Bole districts of the Savannah Region, traditional priests have conducted purification rites to cleanse the land and formally bring closure to the violence.
The rituals were led by the Chief Priest of Tuna, Mwiri Kipo Huenhen, alongside eight other traditional priests. The exercise was intended to appease Mother Earth and the spirits of those who lost their lives during the conflict.
Speaking in an interview at Dagbebu, a suburb of Sawla, the chief priest said the rites marked the definitive end of the bloodshed and warned that any attempt to rekindle the violence would attract severe spiritual repercussions.
“This Gbeniyiri conflict has come to an end today. Families and stakeholders have agreed and are present to witness the purification. We pray to God and our ancestors that such violence never occurs again. Anyone who still harbours violent intentions and takes up a gun or any weapon will have the gods and ancestors to contend with,” he stated.
According to him, the rituals symbolise the closure of the conflict and send a strong message to all parties to coexist peacefully and in harmony.
The conflict began in August 2025 following a dispute over a ten-square-metre piece of land at Gbeniyiri. Although the matter was initially addressed at the Gbeniyiri chief’s palace, the rejection of the ruling by one of the parties sparked widespread violence.
The purification rites commenced at the Janivuro community near Gbeniyiri—where the first five victims were killed—before continuing at Dagbebu.
Recounting the events, the chief priest explained that cleansing the land was necessary to acknowledge the pain caused by the conflict and to pave the way for lasting peace and development.
As part of the rituals, cows, sheep, fowls and drinks were offered as sacrifices to Mother Earth. Similar rites were also performed at Dagbebu.
Chairman of the Savannah Regional Peace Council and member of the Gbeniyiri mediation committee, Reverend Father Lazarus Annyereh, praised the traditional authorities for the initiative.
“What I have witnessed here reflects a genuine commitment to sustainable peace. The chief priest’s call for people to lay down their weapons has significantly advanced our mediation efforts,” Rev. Fr. Annyereh said.
He added that the rites constituted a major contribution to the dialogue and mediation process among the Lobi-Brifor-Gonja communities.
Rev. Fr. Annyereh further noted that his presence as a Catholic priest was symbolic, stressing the church’s support for African traditional practices that promote peace rather than division.
“What I have seen here is the promotion of peace, and it reassures me that we can work together in solidarity,” he said.
In a related development, a new palace has been constructed to replace the Gbeniyiri chief’s palace, which was destroyed during the conflict.
The purification rites were witnessed by key stakeholders, including members of the Lobi-Brifor Council of Elders, the Dagaaba chief and his elders.
