Cheiftancy Dispute Disrupts Life and Work at Kalsalgu

Shea Village quiet during conflictI enjoy work in Ghana but offers it share of challenges, too. Some of which maybe I’ve alluded to in previous posts—basic infrastructural constraints, corruption, lack of education, poor health, etc. But then there are the more conspicuous elements in the culture here that have implications on local productivity and investment. For example, funerals draw in scores of people, on the spot, for the multiple day engagements and their subsequent festivities (they are often taken for parties). If there is a community meeting or group processing scheduled in a particular community the day that such unfortunate news passes, it would be wise to put our energy into rescheduling than trying to push on with the meager attendance. Most relevant at present are the chieftaincy disputes that are especially common in our area here in the north.

Last week, one of such power related disputes broke out in Garizegu, a community neighboring Kalsalgu, the worksite of our shea production center and residence of our women processors. The newly installed chief was ambushed when returning from a nearby village to perform the traditional formalities and greeting and slain by internal community member opposed to his chieftaincy. It triggered more violence in the community, several houses being set on fire and resulted in the arrest of forty-seven people. Some children even took for the bush in fear of the conflict, three are still claimed to be missing.




Boiling Pots abandoned


We are thankful to have learned none of the women associated with the processing center were injured but still must endure the residual fear and disruption of daily life that any such conflict would provoke. Communities here rely on a high degree of internal cooperation for the every day functioning of their local economies and power structures, not to also mention the basic maintenance of their social cohesion, the very pulse of its peace and vitality. Consequently to us, no one came to work at the Shea Butter Village for two weeks. Women hailing from the affected communities remained reasonably scared to leave their households and walk to the work site.

Fortunately, things are getting back on track again, and more women are showing up passing day. Military are now patrolling the community, which, of course, has its consequences too, but we are at least slowly returning to some normalcy. I can only hope that people can find a more democratic and peaceful way of resolving such community level power disputes in the future, lest the impacts continue to hinder not only the peace and safety but also the further progress of those most vulnerable.