Nkonya Tayi, Oti Region, Ghana — November 15, 2025
The African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) successfully embarked on a one-day educational trip from Adabraka, Accra, to Nkonya in the Oti Region. The excursion served as a critical practical learning experience in conflict management for final-year Strategic Communication students, alongside Journalism students focusing on reporting, and Visual Communication students practicing photojournalism.
Ancient Roots and Modern Displacement
The Nkonya people trace their history to the ancient Guan group, believed to be among Ghana’s earliest inhabitants. Their ancestors migrated from Kpembe, and the name “Nkonya” is historically linked to the phrase “Nko-anya,” meaning “unconquerable” or “fight and get.”
Their migration included a temporary settlement in the Akuapem mountains before being pressured by the Akwamu kingdom to move again, eventually settling on the west bank of the Volta River at Senchi. Here, the community split into two main divisions: Ahenkro and Wurupong. Ahenkro crossed the Volta to settle at Nudu, while Wurupong moved north.
The community’s history is also marked by forced relocation when their original settlement was cleared for the construction of the Akosombo Dam, leading to the establishment of Nkonya Tepo as a resettlement community. Today, Nkonya is an association of nine towns: Ahenkro, Asakyiri, Betenase, Kadjebi, Ntsumuru, Ntumda, Tayi, Tepo, and Wurupong.
Witnessing the Peace Breakthrough
Witnessing the Peace Breakthrough
The AUCB student delegation, led by Mr. Peter Wonders, lecturer at AUCB, was greeted with a cultural display, including an Asafo group (warriors) chanting war songs and dancing with a sword. Libation was offered with gins, and donations were presented to the community.
The central discovery of the research trip was the reason for the cessation of violence:
- Divine Realization: An elder shared that one of their brothers had a vision that the blood spilled by both sides had reached God, prompting a fasting and collective plea for forgiveness from their ancestors.
- Mutual Exhaustion: Both communities realized that continued fighting meant neither side would win, and development would remain non-existent.
Today, the students witnessed a remarkable level of trust where Alavanyo people now come to sleep in Nkonya Tayi, while the Nkonya Tayi people also sleep there. These two weeks of sustained peace is being actively championed by local leaders, including Lady Jean Marie, MP for the Biakoye constituency, and the paramount chiefs of both areas.
The Century-Old Conflict and Its Cost
The Nkonya-Alavanyo land dispute, which began in the early 1900s, centres on boundary issues over a stretch of fertile, resource-rich land described as being like “gold, mercury, diamond, kerosene.” The conflict was exacerbated by colonial divisions of the land after World War I.
Elders shared with the visiting delegation the tragic cost of the conflict, recounting a time when individuals were killed by both sides and stating that the dispute severely hampered development, leading to poverty.
As one elder by the name of Mr. Jonathan Yaw Kumah declared, “If they were to retaliate it will not be good so they are quite… What they need is for everyone to have a heart to live peacefully.”
Student Reflection on a Historic Trip
The hands-on research proved profoundly impactful for the visiting students. One student shared her thoughts after witnessing the community’s emotional commitment to reconciliation:
“It was indeed fruitful learning research. Seeing the physical manifestations of a conflict we only read about, and hearing the elders speak about the pain and the shared vision for peace, gave me invaluable insight into conflict resolution. I sincerely hope the conflict between these two tribes will be solved peacefully and not escalate to any bloodshed again.”
The field trip demonstrated that effective communication, journalism, and strategic intervention are vital tools for understanding and resolving complex, long-standing conflicts like the one between the Guan-speaking Nkonya and Ewe-speaking Alavanyo.
While challenges remain, such as the destruction of boundary pillars and the slow pace of infrastructure projects, the reigning two weeks of peace signifies a profound step forward for the Oti Region
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