Communal clashes in northern Ghana that started late last month have killed at least 31 people and displaced nearly 50,000, officials said Thursday, with more than 13,000 fleeing across the border into the Ivory Coast.

The violence in Ghana’s Savannah Region broke out on August 24 in the village of Gbiniyiri, near the Ivorian border, the result of an escalating land dispute that has engulfed a dozen communities.

The conflict began when the local chief sold a parcel of land to a private developer, without broader community consent. When the developer attempted to access the land to begin work, residents resisted violently.

Frustration reached a peak when the chief’s palace was set on fire.

Communal conflicts over land and chieftaincy disputes are recurrent in Ghana’s north, though displacement on this scale is rare.

Interior Minister Mubarak Muntaka said in a radio interview Thursday that 13,253 Ghanaians had crossed into the Ivory Coast, citing figures from Ivorian authorities.

Philippe Hien, president of the Bounkani regional council, told AFP that “there are 13,000 people who have arrived in 17 villages” in the area, which is already home to 30,000 refugees from conflict-hit Burkina Faso.

Ghana’s National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) said around 48,000 people had been forced from their homes, mostly women and children.

“For the past five days we haven’t had any gunshots, killings or attacks,” Savannah Regional NADMO Director Zakaria Mahama told AFP, adding that many displaced are beginning to return home.

Both Mahama and Muntaka confirmed the toll of 31 dead.

Some families are sheltering several dozen relatives in cramped rooms, while those in makeshift displacement camps often only have one meal a day, Mahama said.

On the security front, Muntaka said more than 700 military and police officers had been deployed and a curfew instituted.

Savannah Regional Minister Salisu Bi-Awuribe said calm was gradually returning as chiefs and elders worked with security agencies to prevent further clashes.

Authorities fear food shortages after families abandoned farms and livestock during the exodus.

An investigative committee is being set up with traditional rulers and the National Peace Council to probe the causes and promote reconciliation.

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Since assuming office in May 2023, President Bola Tinubu has made France a frequent destination, sparking curiosity and debate among Nigerians.

With at least eight visits to the European nation since March 2023, including seven as president, the question on many lips is: What is in France?

The Presidency on Thursday announced a 10-day working vacation starting today, September 4, 2025.

Tinubu’s trips to Paris, which range from diplomatic meetings to rumoured medical vacations, raise unanswered questions.

As for why Tinubu frequently visits France, several factors emerge from available information:

Diplomatic and Economic Ties

Tinubu’s visits often focus on strengthening Nigeria-France relations. Nigeria is France’s top trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, with bilateral trade worth over $5 billion in 2023.

His state visit in November 2024, the first by a Nigerian leader in 24 years, aimed to boost investment in sectors like agriculture, energy, and infrastructure.

Strategic Meetings

Tinubu has utilised France as a base for important meetings. For example, his travel in April 2025 was called a “working visit” to review how his administration was doing in the middle of its term and prepare changes. He also reportedly used Paris as a meeting place for business and financial executives. Tinubu also met French President Emmanuel Macron during several visits, including in February 2025, before an African Union summit.

Medical Speculation

There is a lot of speculation, notably from critics, that Tinubu’s many trips may be for medical reasons. Several “private visits” (such in January 2024, August 2024, and February 2025) are thought to contain medical components, although they were officially described as diplomatic or personal.

The Presidency recently denied rumours that Tinubu is ill and is getting ready to be sent abroad for medical care. The Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, AbdulAziz AbdulAziz, told BBC Hausa that the Nigerian Institute for Investigative Journalism’s claims that the President was bedridden were false.

France’s African Strategy

France’s power in its old colonies (such Mali and Niger) because of competition from China and Russia is declining. Tinubu’s travels fit with France’s desire for economic ties, as French businesses like Danone and TotalEnergies are already doing business in Nigeria.

Personal Affinity

Tinubu apparently has a long-standing affection for France, visiting even before his presidency. By April 2025, he had spent at least 59 days in France during eight trips since assuming office in May 2023, more than any other country.

Tinubu’s trips show that Nigeria wants to be a player in the world arena, but the lack of openness behind some of them raises questions.  As the president keeps flying to Paris, the question is still: What is in France?

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The National Directorate of Employment on Thursday launched the second phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative, with a target to train 41,307 Nigerians across the country, as Gombe contributes no fewer than 1,103.

Our correspondent reports the training includes vocational, entrepreneurial, agricultural, ICT and public works skills.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Gombe, the Director-General of the NDE, Silas Agara, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction.

“It is my pleasure to welcome you to the commencement of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative, with a target to train 41,307 Nigerians across the country, out of which Gombe State has 1,103 beneficiaries,” Agara said.

Represented by the State Coordinator Mawa Lamu, the DG added, “In 2024, the Directorate made strides in fulfilling its mandate of employment generation in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.”

The first phase of the programme, which was launched nationwide on December 6, 2024, trained 32,692 unemployed Nigerians in different skills across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. According to Agara, the beneficiaries acquired vocational and ICT competencies, while others benefited from agricultural and small-scale enterprise support.

He added, “A total of 5,532 beneficiaries were resettled with loans and starter packs, while others were linked to credit-granting institutions under our soft loan scheme.”

Building on those successes, Agara disclosed that the NDE had improved its processes for the second phase. “We have digitised our registration portal with scalable backends and geofenced capabilities. This has made our processes more transparent, fair and equitable, while providing us with a credible database,” he explained.

To ensure inclusivity, a minimum of four trainees were selected from each of the 8,809 electoral wards in Nigeria, bringing representation from all 36 states and the FCT.

“Furthermore, a total of 14,457 beneficiaries will be resettled with starter packs to help them establish themselves in their chosen fields. At the end of the second phase of RHEI 2, participants will be equipped with skills to enhance employability, foster entrepreneurship, improve livelihoods and contribute to national economic growth.”

Agara admitted that the NDE continues to face challenges of limited budgetary resources but stressed that the Directorate remains committed to equipping unemployed Nigerians with demand-driven skills.

“Despite the challenges, our goal remains to empower individuals to become employers of labour and wealth creators in the near future,” he noted.

Congratulating the new trainees, Agara encouraged them to take full advantage of the opportunity. “You made it through a rigorous and thorough registration process that speaks to your potential,” he said. “I urge you to make the best use of this opportunity to better your lives, your communities and the nation at large.”

He then formally declared the programme open, adding, “It is my singular honour and privilege to flag off the training component of the Second Phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative.”

Master trainer, Haruna Ahmed, urged them to change the narrative by giving their best, adding, “Do not sell the starter packs given to you. Instead, use them to create wealth.”

Director Education Resource Centre, Gombe, Kabir Mahdi, urged the participants to utilise the opportunity well, stressing, “If you apply what you learnt, you will become better for it, you will not remain the same.”

One of the beneficiaries, Jabir Dahiru, lauded NDE for the opportunity, saying, “I’m grateful to NDE for the opportunity. We will maximise the benefits of the training.”

It was earlier reported that the NDE had opened online registration for Phase Two of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative, aimed at tackling unemployment and equipping Nigerians with vocational and digital skills.

Director-General of the NDE, Mr Silas Agara, announced the launch of the registration portal and the supporting digital infrastructure in Abuja.

“After the success of Phase One, we have enhanced our infrastructure to make Phase Two fully digital.

“We have deployed robust hardware, software, and internet connectivity to all 37 states, including the FCT, to ensure seamless operations,” Agara said.

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