Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, has issued a formal apology to the Gonja community following backlash over comments he made during a live panel discussion on Channel One TV regarding the ongoing Gbiniyiri conflict in the Savannah Region.
The apology, conveyed 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) publicly condemned his remarks as “false, inflammatory, and unjust.”
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 strongly rejected the assertion, arguing that the conflict began as a personal dispute between individuals from the Brifo-Lobi community and was being handled lawfully by the Gbiniyiri chief, a recognised Gonja traditional authority.
The association described Dr. Boakye-Danquah’s 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 emphasized the need for sensitivity in addressing such a historically and culturally complex issue. While defending Dr. Boakye-Danquah’s professional assessment as being informed by credible intelligence sources, the institute also admitted that his comments 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 further clarified that his call for a state of emergency was not meant to cover the entire Savannah Region, but was instead a targeted recommendation for the Gbiniyiri area, where recent violence—including the killing of three unarmed Gonja youth and the son of the Kalbawura—has shaken the community.
The AIGS reaffirmed that Dr. Boakye-Danquah’s intent was not to incite tensions or ethnicise the conflict, but to encourage proactive measures to prevent further escalation.
“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,” the statement emphasised.
Dr. Boakye-Danquah also expressed his openness to engage in constructive dialogue with all stakeholders—traditional leaders, youth groups, security agencies, and government officials—to support efforts toward lasting peace and justice.
The AIGS echoed calls by the GLYA for evidence-based dialogue, mutual respect, and national unity, and urged all public figures to speak with responsibility during times of conflict.
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