CDD-Ghana Engages Journalists in Upper East to Help Fight Extremism Chieftaincy Conflicts
The Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has sounded a stern alarm over the escalating economic and social costs of chieftaincy disputes, identifying them as a primary catalyst for regional instability and potential extremist infiltration.
During a specialized engagement with journalists in Tamale, the civil society’s organization highlighted how prolonged traditional conflicts are no longer just local grievances but have evolved into a significant drain on the national treasury and a threat to Ghana’s sovereign security.
Speaking at the capacity-building program, CDD-Ghana Programmes Manager, Paul Nana Kwabena Aborampah Mensah, revealed the staggering financial burden these conflicts place on the state.
He pointed to data from National Security indicating that the state spends approximately one million Ghana cedis every month to maintain security in Bawku alone.
This translates to an annual expenditure of 12 million Ghana cedis—funds that Mr. Aborampah Mensah noted could have been redirected toward vital developmental projects rather than policing avoidable unrest.
Beyond the direct financial costs, the Center emphasized the “brain drain” and institutional collapse that followed in the wake of such violence.
As conflict erupts, essential services often vanish; banks shutter their branches, while teachers and healthcare workers frequently flee or refuse postings to these volatile areas.
This exodus of human capital further marginalizes already vulnerable communities, creating a vacuum in public services that hampers long-term economic growth and erodes the quality of life for residents who are not even parties to the conflict.
The engagement, supported by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), specifically targeted journalists from the Upper East, North-East, and Upper West regions.
The initiative aims to equip the media with conflict-sensitive reporting tools, moving beyond basic news gathering toward security literacy.
By fostering a more nuanced media landscape, CDD-Ghana seeks to prevent sensationalism that could exacerbate tensions, instead positioning the Northern Ghana media as a bulwark against violent extremism and a pillar of community resilience.
Ultimately, CDD-Ghana’s mission is to reshape the narrative surrounding traditional disputes by illustrating their direct link to national vulnerability.
CDD-Ghana is of the view that, informing the media and the public of the structural risks posed by these conflicts would help to build a foundation for radical reconciliation and social cohesion, ensuring that the resources of the state are used to build the future rather than manage the ghosts of the past.
Source: Joseph Napoleon Anaaya
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