Military Deployed to Mion and Kulkpeni Amid Tensions Over New Market

The Ghanaian military has been dispatched to the Mion and Kulkpeni communities in the Northern Region to quell rising tensions following the contentious opening of a new market in Kulkpeni by the Konkomba community.

The unrest was triggered on Saturday, August 17, when tensions escalated after a communal clash in Zogbei, Mion District, two weeks ago, resulting in over seven fatalities. In response, the Konkomba residents of Mion District decided to boycott the existing Mion market and established their own market in Kulkpeni, a community close to Yendi.

This move has exacerbated tensions between the Yendi and Mion districts, with some residents threatening to forcibly close the newly established Kulkpeni market. Despite efforts by the Yendi Municipal Security Council to encourage the Konkombas to follow the proper procedures for officially opening the market, the situation remains unresolved.

Due to fears of potential violence on Friday, August 23, which is a designated market day, military forces were deployed to the area to maintain peace and prevent any escalation of conflict.