Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah apologises to Gonja community over Gbeniyiri conflict remarks
Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, has apologised to the Gonja community following backlash over comments he made on Channel One TV during a live panel discussion on the ongoing Gbeniyiri conflict in the Savannah Region.
The apology, issued through a statement by the African Institute on Governance and Security (AIGS)—where Dr. Boakye-Danquah serves as a Senior Fellow and Security Analyst—comes a day after the Gonjaland Youth Association (GLYA) condemned his remarks as “false, inflammatory, and unjust.”
During the programme, Dr. Boakye-Danquah had called for a “total state of emergency in the entire Savannah Region”, and claimed that “it is the Gonja guys that are doing this… they have rifles, they have ammunition.” The GLYA rejected the claims, stressing that the conflict originated as a personal dispute between individuals from the Brifo-Lobi community and was being lawfully addressed by the Gbeniyiri chief, a recognised Gonja traditional authority.
The association described his comments as dangerous, misleading, and an affront to the dignity and peaceful legacy of the Gonja people.
In response, AIGS acknowledged the GLYA’s concerns and urged sensitivity in addressing such a culturally complex issue. While defending Dr. Boakye-Danquah’s assessment as being informed by credible intelligence, the institute admitted that his remarks may have caused unintended distress.
“Dr. Boakye-Danquah extends his sincere apologies for any misrepresentation or unintended distress his comments may have caused to the Gonja people or the broader Gonjaland community,” the statement read.
The apology also clarified that his call for a state of emergency was intended only for Gbeniyiri, where recent violence—including the killing of three unarmed Gonja youth and the son of the Kalbawura—has shaken the community.
The AIGS emphasised that Dr. Boakye-Danquah’s remarks were not meant to incite tensions or ethnicise the conflict, but to encourage proactive security measures.
“His intention has never been to malign, divide, or undermine the dignity, restraint, and peaceful legacy of the Gonja people, descendants of the noble Sumaila Ndewura Jakpa,” it added.
Dr. Boakye-Danquah further expressed his willingness to engage in constructive dialogue with traditional leaders, youth groups, security agencies, and government officials to support efforts toward lasting peace and justice.
The institute echoed the GLYA’s call for evidence-based dialogue, mutual respect, and national unity, urging public figures to exercise responsibility in their public statements during times of conflict.
Please download our HOTDIGITAL ONLINE APP and follow HotDigital Online on our social media platforms to stay updated on our upcoming initiatives.
#HotDigitalHealthAwareness #CommunityHealth #GhanaNursesAssociationUK #HealthMatters #HotDigitalOnline #StrongerTogether
