Daniel Nii Arde Tagoe, the Chief of Staff to the James Town Paramount Chief and Head of the Nii Arde Nkpa family, has called for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between the Kusasis and Mamprusis in the Upper East Region, Bawku.
According to Tagoe, Easter is a time for peace and forgiveness, making it an opportune moment for the feuding factions to agree on peaceful terms to resolve the chieftaincy conflict, which has claimed numerous lives and caused significant destruction.
“The conflict happening in Bawku is not helping any of us; rather, it is putting the whole nation into distress. If urgent attention is not given, it will escalate further. Day in and day out, lives are being lost, and life is irreplaceable.
“So, this is a humble plea to all traditional councils, Christian bodies, and the entire nation—let us put all hands on deck to find a lasting solution to the situation in Bawku.
“We cannot say that Muslims are handling their affairs alone, so we need not be mindful. Bawku has Christians, Muslims, children, and adults, and the situation is deeply troubling,” he said.
He continued, “I am pleading with everyone, this is Easter, a season of peace and forgiveness. Let us give peace a chance. To my fellow traditional rulers, let us ensure that our stools are not up for grabs or sale, but rather that we follow due process in all matters.”
Tagoe, who is also the Presiding Elder of the Church of Pentecost, Mamprobi District, Bethel-Sempe in the Greater Accra Region, made these remarks during an Easter celebration at the church, which was attended by the traditional council, led by the Paramount Chief of Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area, Obrempong Dr Wetse Kojo II.
Obrempong Dr Wetse Kojo II emphasized the need for collaboration between traditional authorities and the Christian fraternity to foster a better society.
“When all faiths work together, we can build a stronger and more unified society,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the head pastor of the church, Natheniel Adjartey, urged the public to reflect on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as a guide for peaceful coexistence.
“Easter is a period to reflect on Christ’s trials, death and resurrection, and the good things we benefit from it. It is a time to correct our lives and commit to living peacefully.
“Our prayer is that all Christians live according to this message to ensure peaceful coexistence. Let us live in harmony with one another to maintain a peaceful environment,” he stressed.
Florence Adjartey, a women’s leader in the church, took the opportunity to caution the youth against drug abuse.
“We want to encourage women, especially, to trust in God rather than go astray in their pursuit of comfort.
“I also want to encourage young people to stay away from drug abuse. The devil is using several ways to destroy our youth, and medical experts have already warned about the dangers of substance abuse.
“One of the most destructive drugs affecting the youth today is ‘Red.’ No matter how addicted they may be, God can save them. They should seek help and stop abusing harmful substances,” she advised.
The Bawku conflict, rooted in longstanding ethnic and chieftaincy disputes, has seen periodic escalations resulting in casualties, displacement, and heightened security concerns.
On Sunday, April 13, 2025, three people, including two young police officers, were killed amid renewed violence.
AM/KA
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