- Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah apologized for remarks about the Gbiniyiri conflict that angered the Gonja community.
- His comments were condemned by the Gonjaland Youth Association as inflammatory and misleading.
- AIGS clarified that the call for emergency measures was specific to Gbiniyiri, not the entire Savannah Region.
- Dr. Boakye-Danquah pledged to support peace efforts and engage with community leaders.
- The incident highlights the need for fact-based, respectful dialogue in conflict reporting.
Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, has issued a formal apology to the Gonja community following widespread backlash over comments he made regarding the Gbiniyiri conflict in the Savannah Region.
The apology, released through the African Institute on Governance and Security (AIGS), where Dr. Boakye-Danquah serves as a Senior Fellow, comes after strong condemnation from the Gonjaland Youth Association (GLYA). The group described his remarks as inflammatory and misleading, accusing him of mischaracterizing the nature of the conflict and unfairly implicating the Gonja people.
During a televised panel discussion, Dr. Boakye-Danquah had called for a state of emergency across the entire Savannah Region and alleged that armed Gonja individuals were responsible for the violence. The GLYA swiftly rejected the claims, clarifying that the conflict stemmed from a personal dispute within the Brifo-Lobi community and was being addressed under the authority of the Gbiniyiri chief — a respected Gonja traditional leader.
In its statement, AIGS acknowledged that the remarks may have caused distress and clarified that the call for emergency measures was intended specifically for the Gbiniyiri area, not the entire region. The institute emphasized that Dr. Boakye-Danquah’s comments were based on security intelligence and not meant to inflame ethnic tensions.
Dr. Boakye-Danquah expressed regret for any misrepresentation and reaffirmed his respect for the Gonja people, describing them as descendants of Sumaila Ndewura Jakpa — a legacy of dignity and peace. He also pledged to engage with traditional leaders, youth groups, and security agencies to support peacebuilding efforts in the region.
AIGS echoed the GLYA’s call for responsible public discourse, urging commentators to avoid rhetoric that could deepen divisions or derail conflict resolution. The apology marks a significant moment in the ongoing effort to balance national security concerns with cultural sensitivity and historical context.
