Authored by: Emmanuel Precious Mohamed Koroma
Residents of Longu Village in Kpanga Chiefdom, Pujehun District, have expressed their dissatisfaction with the aloof attitude displayed by the Chiefdom Authorities regarding an ongoing land dispute between them and Sawula Village. These concerns were brought to light during an impromptu interview with one of our reporters several weeks ago.
The residents have conveyed that the lack of interest exhibited by the chiefdom authorities has escalated tensions between the two communities.
The origins of this long-standing conflict between Sawula and Longu communities stem from a small parcel of land and a narrow stream where both villages have historically engaged in fishing and farming activities.
The dispute between the two communities began when Sawula Village laid claim to ownership of the aforementioned land tract. Notably, even though the contentious piece of land is situated within the territory of the Longu community according to sources, residents of Sawula Village have been cultivating the land for an extended period. Consequently, both villages are currently asserting ownership rights over the same piece of land, thereby intensifying the conflict.
It is worth mentioning that this disputed land and the adjoining stream serve as a demarcation line separating the boundaries of the two villages.
Regrettably, attempts to establish communication with the Chiefdom Authorities up to the time of publication have proven to be unfruitful.