Fresh clashes between the Adele, Challa, and Akyode tribes have triggered the displacement of thousands of residents from Nkwanta township to neighboring districts and municipalities in the Oti Region.
The Nkwanta conflict stems from disputes over the performance of ritual rites related to the Akyodes’ 2023 annual Yam Festival.
During the clashes, numerous homes and shops were damaged, transforming Nkwanta into a deserted town.
According to reports from the Ghana News Agency (GNA), many individuals have sustained gunshot wounds and are currently receiving medical treatment at the Nkwanta South Municipal Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital, both located in Nkwanta township.
Madam Anastasia Okyere, an Administrator at St. Joseph Hospital, informed the GNA that the hospital had received more than 10 patients with multiple gunshot wounds.
Some were treated at their facility, while others were transferred to the Nkwanta South Municipal Hospital for further medical attention.
She also expressed concern about the safety of hospital staff, highlighting the potential threats to their lives.
When the GNA contacted Nkwanta South Municipal Police Commander Superintendent Lartey Lawson, he declined to provide a comment on the matter.
On a related note, the Adeles and Challas ethnic groups held a joint press conference against the Akyode tribe’s celebration of the Kyodjible Yam Festival, deeming it a disturbance.
These three tribes have been embroiled in a longstanding dispute over the ownership of Nkwanta township, which remains unresolved for decades.
theindependentghana.com
