Thousands of people from the Adele, Challa, and Akyode tribes have been forced to evacuate their homes in the Nkwanta township and seek refuge in adjacent districts and municipalities within our region due to a recent outbreak of warfare.
Conflicts have arisen between the ethnic groups over rituals being performed to celebrate the annual Yam Festival of the Akyodes in 2023.
Nkwanta became an abandoned town as a result of the conflict, which claimed many houses and businesses.
Numerous patients with gunshot wounds were reportedly undergoing treatment at the Nkwanta South Municipal Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital, both located in Nkwanta Township, according to information obtained by the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
Over ten patients with multiple gunshot wounds were brought to St. Joseph Hospital, where some received treatment on-site and others were sent to the Nkwanta South Municipal Hospital for additional care, according to Madam Anastasia Okyere, an administrator there, who spoke with the GNA about this.
She demanded that the hospital staff be protected since their lives were in danger.
Superintendent Lartey Lawson, the commander of the Nkwanta South Municipal Police, declined to comment when reached by GNA.
The Adeles and Challas ethnic groups together held a press conference on Saturday to protest the Akyode tribe’s Kyodjible Yam Festival celebration, citing it as disruptive.
Three tribes have been in contention for the ownership of Nkwanta township for some decades now without a solution
