Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah of the Africa Institute on Governance and Security (AIGS), has called on the government to deploy the needed resources to restore law and order at Bawku, amid rising tension.
He made the urgent call during an interview on TV3 on April 11, 2025, while speaking to the ongoing crisis in the Upper East regional town.
The former spokesperson on governance and security under the erstwhile Akufo-Addo government emphasised that the conflict does not only threaten lives, but also impacts the economic activities of natives.
He cautioned the government that if the conflict is not resolved in a timely manner, it could pose a security threat to the nation.
“We are saying that the Bawku conflict is not just a regional issue, but a national security threat which can destabilise the country because of the location of Bawku to Burkina Faso and other neighbouring countries,” he said, expressing deep concerns over the crisis.
He consequently called for swift action to resolve the long-standing ethno-political dispute.
“We are calling for a comprehensive and inclusive approach in the resolution of the long-standing conflict rooted in the history of the Mamprusis and the Kusasis,” he said.
He pleaded with other mediators to employ an all-inclusive approach to end the conflict.
“We are also calling for mediation efforts, led by His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, to provide all the support needed to curb the conflict in the Upper East Region. We need traditional leaders; the Civil Society Organisations, and all stakeholders be engaged in resolving the crisis.
“We are also asking them to find the root causes of the long-standing crisis, and find long-term solutions by addressing chieftaincy disputes, land ownership issues and economic marginalisation problems in the region,” he said.
He also appealed to the government to roll out empowerment programmes for the youth in the region so that they will not be easily lured by malicious and influential people to engage in unfruitful ventures.
VPO/AE
Meanwhile, catch up on the concluding part of the story of Fort William, where children were sold in exchange for kitchenware, others, below:
