For decades people of this land have fought many wars against each other to undo what they perceive to be unequal distribution of wealth. Many innocent souls have been lost through the hands of their fellow human beings; they say their grievances cannot be solved with dialogue only arms can help undo many of the injustices they say have existed.
So they fought for everything that they laid their hands on. But a time came when they saw that they cannot continue fighting and that there was the need to seek for amicable solution for many of the issues that divide them. So a truce was called but they were unable to solve their differences even to the extent that in neighbouring Togo, the descendants of this tribes took arms against each other in the 1ate 70’s and early 80’s.
In the early 90’s they fought several wars among themselves in the Northern Regions of Ghana, it was so brutal that many innocent souls were lost, it is difficult to talk of the many atrocities that was committed by not stepping on peoples toes, the government on the day used brutal force to quell the clashes leaving the root causes of the conflict unresolved although it tried to do so but met with little success and the worst of the conflict was yet to come, so in 1995 the conflict erupted again, this time the cause was on the sale of a “guinea fowl” which cost less than 3 dollars at that time but many observers agreed that the root cause of the conflict was more than the cost and subsequent death of the owner of the fowl, the conflict left many homeless, orphaned and widowed in a region known for its high poverty rate and school dropouts.
The army was called in to prevent further death and destruction for which they did with iron fist and brutality but many supporters will argue it calmed the situation down but one which heavily divided the population and still left the conflict unresolved. During and after the conflict no one could cross the divided line without being shot with a bow and arrow, inter-ethnic trade and marriage was stopped and people who were perceived to be the loyalists were ex-communicated or killed.
There was so much tension that all educational activities were put on hold. But in the midst of all the confusion, one man virtually unknown decided that enough was enough and that he will strive hard to bring the various feuding factions together to forge for unity, peace and prosperity but his task was not made easy because he belonged to one side of the feuding factions and was viewed with suspicion but guided by the principle ‘men are sometimes masters of their own faith’ he ventured into what many of his fellow men feared most in a time of great enormity, ‘peace’. During this time this word was sacredly known to those behind the corridors of fear and that if they dared spoke of it they will be considered a weakling and ex-communicated from their people. But this man, known as Jerry Jackson, decided to test his faith and courage and ventured into the lion’s den to bring peace between the great cats. He set off to the other side of the dividing line to meet the men who wield power but he was stopped in his tracks and chased away, it was dearness alone that he escaped with his life by walking into the forest with bear feet, without food for several days he made the journey through the forest in a time of war fearing for his own life. Matters were made worst upon reaching what he perceive to be home, his family was threatened and the family’s house was burnt by his people because they thought he was siding with the enemy and warned that he will be ex-communicated from the town if he didn’t stop.
Left in the dark by his friends and family he vowed to end the cycle of violence that has claimed many innocent souls. He took another step by inviting all the stakeholders to a meeting by first securing a pledge from the army to provide security to the gathering and to protect all the leaders from the ethnic groups. This time, although many voiced their concerns about the whole gathering the chiefs, fearing for their own lives rather, sent in their representatives and the path for peace was laid. But disaster struck when after the gathering, a representative from the architect of the conflict was manhandled with his shirt torn to shreds and when the news got to the town, it was back to the drawing board for Jerry Jackson. He never despaired and quickly he took a motorcycle to intersect the representative from reaching his king and elders, this he did with divine intervention as he managed to reach the man who was on the brink of collapse after escaping for his dear life. Jerry managed to convince him that it was the work of a few misguided elements and that the chief of the town has nothing to do with it. He brought the man home, fed him and clothed him and then took him to the chief who ordered those who manhandled the representative be brought to book by offering a cow and a sheep for what they have done. The people refused the elders’ request and said they will never offer any apology to their enemy let alone an offering for peace. They went to Jerry to warn him of the hell they would unleash if they were made to perform such an offering.
Meanwhile, word had gotten to the other side that the man they sent has been killed by the enemy, this meant the resumption of the war unless they produce the man with his head intact. Jerry fearing the worst offered to perform the offering so that the man can return to his people but time was running out on him as the hardliners from the other side had already started amassing their troops for the battle ahead.
The offering was performed and the man returned to his people who in turn gave good account of his treatment which meant a great disaster has been averted. Jerry further went ahead to arrange another meeting between the chiefs but this time the meeting was to take place at the other side which meant the headlined chief will have to offer security to his perceived ‘enemies’. The meeting was successful and a truce was called, other arrangements were made to foster peace and harmony by organizing such events as soccer matches and other cultural activities. Jerry had accomplished what he set out to do although he was not able to find a solution to the conflict, he managed to set up a forum where various ethnic groups can meet and discuss their grievances. He formed an NGO known as ‘JUSTPO Integrated’ which works to alleviate poverty and foster peace among the people of the northern region. Today he can move to all the villages and towns without fearing for his life, he is invited to all the functions in the Gonja land, he is loved and cherished so much that he was voted as the District Chief Executive of East Gonja in 1999.
I did not know this man until March of this year (2004), when I returned from a field trip in the Ashanti region and was told that Mr. Jerry Jackson called requesting to have a meeting with me and that all my expenses will be paid for. I was puzzled and unsure and kept asking who he was and was told he was the former district chief Executive of East Gonja. It was there and then that I remembered I had read so much about this man and what he has done and continue to do for his people.
I was excited and trilled that such a man could call to have a discussion with me, so I packed all my belongings along with a friend and set of to meet the man called the “braveheart”, it was an 8 hour journey involving bus, ferry and foot but the excitement of meeting a great personality like the ‘braveheart’ was worth pursing. We got there late and all faith had been lost of our coming. We weren’t expected to show up till after they heard from us, so there was no one to meet us and we had to find our way to the house of Mr. Jerry Jackson ourselves, which wasn’t difficult at all because that name was a household name. In all we spent six days in the comfort of the home of the man they call the ‘braveheart’. My first encounter with this man was worth remembering and the journey one I will leave to tell in another story I have titled ‘The Journey’.
Oh lord, whatever dangerous endeavours those among us may take let them never be without your sanctuary. We all know in our heart even though we may pass through the shadow of death, you are with us, guiding and protecting us.
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