Tema-Nungua dispute: Peace Council warns youth against escalating tensions on social media

The Greater Accra Regional Peace Council has warned that escalating exchanges between young people from the Tema and Nungua traditional areas on social media could threaten peace and security in the region amid an ongoing dispute over the ownership of land and the Meridian Rock.

The Council said it was particularly concerned about what it described as an escalating media war among the youth of the two traditional areas, warning that the situation could heighten tensions if not addressed.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, and signed by its Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Rt. Rev. Samuel Kofi Osabute y, the Council urged both communities to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could undermine peaceful coexistence.

“The GARPC is more concerned about the escalating media war among the youth from traditional areas on social media, which is increasing tensions and threatening peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

The Council called on the chiefs and people of Tema and Nungua to remain calm while efforts are made to find an amicable resolution to the disagreement.

It also urged traditional leaders and social media users to refrain from creating platforms that could inflame passions or deepen divisions between the two communities.

“The Peace Council finally urges both traditional and social-media to avoid creating any platforms that may escalate tensions in both traditional areas,” it added.

The Council stressed that disagreements between the traditional areas must be handled through constructive engagement rather than confrontational exchanges.

The dispute has drawn wider public attention following tensions surrounding the Meridian site, which has deep historical and cultural significance to the people of Tema.

In January 2026, some youth from Tema Manhean protested the redevelopment of the defunct Meridian Hotel site by a private developer, arguing that the area represented the original settlement of the Tema people before their relocation to present-day Tema Manhean.

The protest turned confrontational when some demonstrators destroyed portions of a newly constructed fence wall at the site.

More recently, Accra Metropolitan University postponed its Dzenten Festival, which was scheduled for November 1, 2026, citing security concerns arising from the Tema-Nungua dispute.

The Greater Accra Regional Peace Council says it remains committed to promoting dialogue, negotiations and reconciliation to ensure a lasting resolution.