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Information reaching Daily Guide indicates that tension is brewing in the Gonja Traditional Area as a result of unresolved chieftaincy disputes in the area. The tension is being fueled by two claimants of the Buipe skins ahead of the planned visit of the Vice President, John Dramani Mahama to the area this week. He is expected to take part in a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Fufulso-Damongo-Sawla road- a major campaign promise to Gonjas during the 2008 elections. According to a reliable source in the Gonja Traditional Area, majority of Gonjas are dissatisfied with the Mills-Mahama administration for its alleged interference in the Buipe chieftaincy dispute. It would be recalled that in 2010, the Gonja Traditional Council, during one of its major sittings, unanimously agreed to dis-enskin the Buipewura Mahama Abdulai Jinapor II following an alleged show of gross disrespect towards the Overlord of the Gonja Traditional Area, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Bore Essa Sulemana Jakpa I. However, the embattled Buipewura said the Yagbonwura and for that matter the Gonja Traditional Council of which he was a senior member, had no jurisdiction to dis-enskin him as it contravened the custom of the Gonjas. The Buipewura, who felt his fundamental human rights had been infringed upon, took the matter to the courts to have the decision of the Gonja Traditional Council overturned. The court, in its ruling, upheld his appeal by quashing the decision of the Gonja Traditional Council and directed the Gonja Traditional Council to reinstate him with all other privileges. He was also awarded damages by the court to the tune of GH�3,000. Since the ruling, there seem to be serious stalemate between Gonjas and the ruling government. Reports suggest the Yagbonwura may refuse an invitation by government to partake in the sod cutting ceremony. According to sources, the King seems to be angry with the government for its perceived meddling in the Buipe chieftaincy. However Daily Guide has also learnt that some top government officials have been dispatched to the area to plead with the Yagbonwura ahead of the planned event in order to convince him to accept the invitation to grace the occasion. They noted that the project is aimed at supporting all Gonjas and Northerners. As at the time of going to press, another source warned of possible attacks and pandemonium in the Buipe area if the Vice President John Mahama pays a courtesy call on Mahama Abdulai Jinapor II or addresses him appropriately at the grounds. According to the source, all the residents of Buipe, especially family members of the Lebupe Gate (opposing faction in the chieftaincy dispute) want Vice President Mahama to travel to the event grounds and leave them in peace. �Anything short of this would result in bloodbath,� the source stressed. Meanwhile, the 98-mile Fufulso-Damongo-Sawla road has been earmarked for re-construction since the Rawlings regime. It is a major route linking the Northern region from Wa in the Upper West and Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo regions. According to a Damongo based Non-Governmental Organization � Centre for Women Opportunities, an estimated 2 million people travel between the Upper West region and Northern region each year. Gonjas, who are the major inhabitants along that route (from Fufulso in the Central Gonja District through Damongo in the West Gonja District to the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District) have lost hope despite a recent promise by the Vice President that Gonjas should chase them (NDC or government officials) away when they come there to campaign for votes if they fail to re-construct the road by 2012 asphalted. For now, Gonjas and people of Northern and Upper West Regions can only hope and pray that the groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for January 25, 2012 would take place.