Deadly clashes have erupted in Bole, the hometown of President John Dramani Mahama, as renewed fighting between the Gonja and Lobi ethnic groups has left several people feared dead and many others fleeing the area.
The violent confrontation, rooted in unresolved chieftaincy disputes, has plunged the town and its surrounding communities into widespread insecurity. Residents say gunfire and chaos have forced families to abandon their homes in search of safety.
In response to the escalating violence, the Minister for the Interior, based on advice from the National Security Council, has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Bole Township and nearby areas. The curfew runs from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., effective Wednesday, August 27, 2025, and remains in force until further notice.
“The measure is necessary to safeguard lives and property in the area and to prevent further escalation of the conflict,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
“We continue to urge all stakeholders to exercise restraint in the face of these challenges and use non-violent means to restore calm,” the statement added.
Security personnel have been deployed to maintain order, enforce the curfew, and prevent further violence.
The government is urging chiefs, opinion leaders, youth, and residents to avoid retaliatory.
Residents who spoke to local reporters expressed deep concern over the recurring nature of the conflict and the lack of a lasting solution.
“We cannot continue to live in fear every time disputes arise,” one resident lamented. “Government and our traditional authorities must come together to resolve this once and for all.”
The violence has disrupted daily life, schooling, markets, and farming in the area, putting immense pressure on families and local businesses.
This latest violence is part of a long-standing feud between the Gonja and Lobi ethnic groups, largely fueled by chieftaincy succession disagreements and land ownership claims. Despite multiple peace initiatives over the years, tensions continue to resurface, often with deadly consequences.
This week’s outbreak is being described as one of the most violent in recent memory in the Savannah Region, raising national concern and renewed calls for structured conflict resolution frameworks.
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