Two people have sustained gunshot wounds and several others arrested at Damongo in the West Gonja Municipality on Thursday 7 th March following an eight-year-old chieftaincy tussle.

The heavy gunshots took the center stage around 5 in the evening between two chieftaincy feuding clans over the Damongo chieftaincy title (Damongowura) of the Damongo Traditional Area.

The warfare continued for about an hour between the subjects of Chief Yakubu Imoro and Chief Kelly Seidu at Langbanto, a suburb of Damongo in between the homes of the two feuding chiefs.

It took the intervention of the regional security forces made up of military and police personnel to bring the situation under control.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the two were injured in the gun duel and were rushed to the hospital by their relatives for treatment.

As at 7 in the evening, 3 police pickups and 1 military armored vehicle were stationed at the residence of Damongowura Chief Kelly Seidu while other vehicles patrolled the streets to ensure calm was restored to the regional capital. 

Background

The chieftaincy brawl started after the demise of the late Damongowura Tuntumba Jakpa (I) in 2019 when the Kuntunkure Clan (chief makers clan) selected chief Kelly Seidu as the heir apparent to the Damongo skins but he was rejected by chief Yakubu Imoro.

The late Yagbonwura Tutumba Boresa I was petitioned to look into the matter for adjudication at the Jakpa Palace.

However, the late Yagbonwura Tutumba Boresa I opposed the selection of Chief Kelly Seidu and gave it to Chief Yakubu Imoro, the petitioner.

Aggrieved by the judgement, Chief Kelly Seidu Braimah also rejected the verdict and sent the case to the Northern Regional House of Chiefs for settlement but the house was unable to do so until the creation of the Savannah Region from it.

The case was pending for ruling at the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs until the current Yagbonwura Jira Bikunutu Jewu Soale I in consultation with the Kuntunkure Clan on 24th November 2023 conferred the Damongowura title on the current Chief Kelly Seidu Braimah

In the aftermath of his selection as the successor and the passing away of Yagbonwura Tuntunba Boresa (I) Chief Kelly Seidu Braimah redrew the chieftaincy case ending an eight-year chieftaincy tussle from the judiciary committee of the Savannah regional House of Chiefs tasked to adjudicate the issue.

Although Chief Kelly Seidu is yet to be gazetted as the Damongowura, the feud between the two chiefs and clans continues to be bloody.