The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Bawku, Amadu Hamza Zanga, has called for a comprehensive approach to dealing with the conflict in Bawku permanently amid the recent rise in tensions in the area.
Speaking on The Probe on JoyNews, he said that the different tribes, living in Bawku, must move beyond their division and cooperate with the security officials to ensure an end is brought to the conflict.
“The difficulty [in getting people to cooperate and resolve the conflict] is the lines we create. Every single tribe in Bawku tries to protect its own. When I come out as the MCE to speak on reports [gotten from security], you will find that one side affected by your speech is against you. I recall the other time that three persons were neutralised at the Mumprusi areas, they were all out against me.”
“[When] it is time to come out to speak the Kusasis are against me. Personally, I don’t care, I am a leader and I’m going to ensure I do the right thing. My own uncle was shot including another person just because of breaking curfew hours, I have to ensure that I come out to speak the same language, so our job is a very difficult one, especially in Bawku.”
Despite acknowledging how tough it would be to get all the sides to cooperate, Mr Zanga believes that is one of the major ways the conflict will come to an end.
He said that the people need to collaborate with the security agencies stating, “the police and military are no different from the ones in other places. It is the same police that do peacekeeping outside. The same methodology and strategies put out by the police and military are the same they are using in Bawku.”
“The situation in Bawku really needs a comprehensive approach. It is time for us to put politics aside and say look ‘Kusasi and Mumprusis are our fathers and mothers, there is a need for us to come together’. It is time the citizenry in Bawku act strictly to ensure that we cooperate to ensure there is lasting peace in Bawku.”
Mr Zanga stated that it is enshrined in Ghana’s constitution that the people live in harmony they coexist together irrespective of tribe, race, or economic status.
“It is not the case that Kusasis, Mumprusis and Mossis should be treated differently and that is the reason why the segregation of the market should happen. I am not doing that to benefit anybody, I just want them to be in the same market and I want them to be trading and talking to each other every single day that is the only thing that can.”
This comes after renewed conflicts in Bawku have led to the death of a number of persons in the area while others have been left injured.
On Saturday, the Ghana Armed Forces revealed that the men engaged in a gunfight with their troops leading to the death of the three while one other escaped.
They also reported that there had been an attempt to blow up the Bawku Goil filling station by two locals.
They also revealed that the death of four individuals had been recorded the week prior, prompting increased security and patrol.
Source:Fiilafmonline/JoyNews
