The government has provided relief items to refugees from Burkina Faso residing in Widnaba in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region.
The over 200 refugees, mainly women and children sought asylum at Widnaba following a chieftaincy dispute in the Zoaga community of Burkina Faso.
The Upper East Regional Coordinating Council in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) donated 200 blankets and mosquito nets, 50 poly mats, 50 plastic buckets, 15 mini bags of rice, two bags of corn, plastic plates and an undisclosed amount of money for their upkeep.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Frank Fuseine Adongo, who presented the donation, called on the Burkina Faso government to urgently intervene to resolve the dispute.
“We will call on the government to expedite action to get the government of Burkina Faso to intervene, so the issue is resolved so that, they are returning to their homes in Zoaga. I don’t know how long we can continue to house these refugees, because housing is a problem”.
Some of the refugees called on the government and authorities of Burkina Faso to urgently resolve the issue for them to return home.
“Our country is in difficulty that has caused us to run to Ghana. W, therefore,e are calling on our Burkina Faso government to resolve this problem so that we can return to our homes because we are not comfortable here.”
One of the refugees added that, “We want our state to do whatever is possible for us to return home (to Zoaga) because we don’t belong here. The other side burned our homes. Hence the government should try and resolve the problem because we are not comfortable being strangers in Ghana,” a refugee appealed.
Background of the Chieftaincy conflict at Zoaga
According to Chief Ouare Vincent whose side is seeking refuge at Widnaba, the chieftaincy dispute between him and Chief Ouare Tampiga the opposing side is over who the legitimate chief of Zoaga is. He said the issue had been a long-standing one.
He said, On the 25th of January 2019, he and his elders went to a shrine to pour libation but were confronted by Chief Ouare Tampiga , and his subjects who challenged his authority at the shrine.
The confrontation escalated leading to burning of several houses. Sporadic gunshots also led to the death of 55-year-old Dabre Sibre, leaving him and his subjects no other option except to seek asylum at Widnaba.
Chief Ouare Vincent alleged that he was enskinned as the rightful chief of Zoaga, but the then regent Ouare Tampiga is parading himself as Chief of the area leading to the chieftaincy unrest in the area.
Asked why the political authorities in the area have not resolved that matter, Chief Ouare Vincent, accused the political head of the area of siding with the other side.
Efforts made to get the side of Chief Ouare Tampiga proved futile.
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By: Frederick Awuni/citinewsroom.com/Ghana