More than 13,000 Ghanaians have fled across the western border into Côte d’Ivoire as violence stemming from a protracted land dispute in the Gbinyiri area continues to escalate, Ghana’s Interior Minister said Wednesday.
Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka told Joy FM that 13,253 individuals have taken refuge in neighboring Côte d’Ivoire following clashes in the Savannah Region’s Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District. The figure was confirmed through coordination with Ivorian authorities, he said.
“We are dealing with a complex humanitarian situation. As of yesterday, working with the Ivorian authorities, we can confirm that about 13,000 individuals are in Côte d’Ivoire,” Mr. Muntaka said.
Violence erupted in late August after the chief of Gbinyiri, a farming community near Ghana’s western frontier, reportedly sold a parcel of land to a private developer. The transaction sparked outrage among some residents, leading to deadly clashes when the developer moved to begin construction. At least six people have been killed and 18 injured, according to local authorities.
The unrest, which began on August 24, forced families to flee across riverine border communities into Côte d’Ivoire, while others remain stranded across four Ghanaian regions including Upper West and Savannah.
“The terrain is quite porous, especially along the rivers. Many crossed over in canoes or on foot. The displacement has impacted multiple regions,” Mr. Muntaka noted.
In response, Ghanaian authorities, in coordination with district assemblies, Côte d’Ivoire’s government, and international partners including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), are mobilizing relief efforts for the displaced.
Mr. Muntaka also praised Ghana’s security services for their performance under pressure. “They have been overworked and under immense stress, yet they are doing all they can to keep our country safe. We deeply appreciate their sacrifices.”
Efforts are underway to de-escalate tensions through dialogue. On Wednesday, a delegation from the Gonjaland Traditional
