PEACE BUILDING AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF ALAVANYO AND NKONYA CONFLICT

ABSTRACT

Conflicts arise in many communities but if they are managed properly

they are able to bring peace, which is prerequisite for development. Conflict is

an active disagreement between people with opposing opinions or principles.

In Ghana, there are land conflicts, chieftaincy conflicts, religious conflicts, and

political conflicts among others.

This research is about the Alavanyo and Nkonya conflict which started

in 1923 over a prime forest land with rich timber species, bamboo and cola

nuts. The conflict has arisen from an 80 year old boundary disputes between

the Nkonya, a Guan group and the Alavanyo, an Ewe group both in the Volta

Region of Ghana.

A cross-sectional survey design was used to carry out the study. The

basic instruments used were questionnaires and in-depth interview. The

questionnaires were administered in some selected communities in Alavanyo

and Nkonya. Traditional leaders, District Chief Executives and opinion leaders

were interviewed because of time constraint.

The research has found out that the main occupations in the two towns

were mainly farming, hunting, trading and some civil servants. The majority

(83%) of the respondents reported that the conflict occurred because the area

is a fertile land for farming and lumbering activities. There had been military

and police interventions, court adjudication, and peace building methods

involving stakeholders.

It is recommended that Government and the various Metropolitan,

Municipal and District Assemblies should set up Peace and Reconciliation

committees in their various areas.