President John Dramani Mahama has described as unacceptable the recent killing of students in renewed violence linked to the Bawku chieftaincy dispute.
His comments follow the killing of three students after gunmen stormed school campuses in Bawku and Nalerigu over the weekend, opening fire amid ongoing clashes. The attacks have heightened fears and disrupted life in the affected areas.
Speaking at the Jubilee House during a courtesy call by the Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, President Mahama also referenced the recent killing of a chief and another person in Kumasi, noting that these developments have undermined progress made by the Otumfuo-led mediation committee working to restore peace in Bawku.
“We cannot accept this current situation where students are shot in school and killed. We can’t accept the current situation where teachers and public officers have all run away from Bawku because they are afraid for their lives,” the President stated.
President Mahama appealed to both the Kusasis and Mamprusis to give peace a chance, adding that those behind the continued violence are determined to derail the mediation efforts.
He revealed that the military’s role in the area has now shifted from peacekeeping to peace enforcement following his directive, signalling a more forceful response to ongoing acts of violence.
“That means they are going to be a bit more robust with anybody who is involved in criminality,” he said.
The President urged for calm not only in Bawku but also in other conflict-prone areas such as Nkwanta, where similar tensions continue to pose threats to national peace and security.
