Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, Ghana’s Minister for the Interior, has revealed that the country is grappling with hundreds of conflict “hotspots” and emphasized the need for comprehensive government action to address them.
Mr. Muntaka said Ghana currently has about 338 identified conflict-prone areas nationwide. Of these, 190 hotspots are directly linked to chieftaincy disputes, which he described as the most significant driver of localized violence and unrest in the country.
Muntaka warned that if the underlying causes of these disputes — particularly those related to traditional authority and land — are not tackled, Ghana risks worsening instability. “When you go into secondary issues like land, in the long run, it brings you back to chieftaincy,” he said, underscoring the complexity and deep cultural roots of many of these conflicts.
In response, the Interior Minister announced that the government is preparing to convene a national conference on chieftaincy disputes aimed at forging lasting solutions and reducing violence in affected communities. He also highlighted steps to strengthen peacebuilding mechanisms and enhance security deployments in vulnerable areas.
Mr. Muntaka’s comments came amid concerns about displacement and broader security impacts. On specific outbreaks, such as clashes in parts of the Savannah Region, he confirmed that thousands of residents had fled their homes, with many crossing into neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire. Government security forces have since been deployed to stabilise the areas and support peace efforts.
The disclosure of the conflict hotspots highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining peace and security across various regions — particularly where traditional authority and land ownership disputes intersect — and illustrates the Interior Ministry’s focus on coordinated national strategies to tackle them.
