THE 1910 DUNCAN BOUNDARY DEMARCATION AND OSOPUNG –IZZI INTERGROUP CONFLICTS IN OBUBRA AREA

Abstract

In the face of continued intergroup Conflict between Osopong and Izzi people, due to the socio-cultural dynamic of the Obubra area, the Duncan Boundary Demarcation of 1910 ceded three Izzi communities to the Native Administrative Authorities of the Osopong Clan resulting to intergroup tension and irredentist armed struggles. Despite several judicial, administrative and traditional attempts at addressing the sustained intergroup conflict between the Osopong and Izzi, marginal success was achieved in terms of resolution questioning the utility of such method of conflict. The study adopted a historical and descriptive method of analysis and utilized both primary and secondary data collected. The study revealed that land annexation and encroachment are the principal factors in the escalation of intergroup conflict between Osopong and Izzi people. The study further revealed that the 1910 Duncan Boundary demarcation opened up series of litigation process which lasted for many years among many other effects. The study attribute this to the excessive dependence on land for socio-cultural and economic survival.