Bawku situation is still volatile - DCE

Mr Dominic Akudago, Bawku East District Chief Executive, said last Friday that even though the military and police personnel deployed in the town are firm on the ground, there is still tension in Bawku. He said the inhabitants are suspicious of one another and this is adversely affecting economic activity in the town.

The DCE made this known in an interview with the GNA at Bawku on the security situation in the town, following a clash between Kusasis and Mamprusis on December 8. The clash left 10 people dead, 25 injured and property worth millions of cedis, including many houses, destroyed.

The DCE said most people living in the surrounding villages still fear to come to Bawku town for fear of being attacked. Mr Akudago therefore called for the deployment of more security personnel in the town until after the presidential run-off.

In a related development, a police source told the GNA at Bawku that there was rumour circulating that the two factions in the dispute would clash again but nobody could tell when this would happen. The source therefore asked for more reinforcement of military and police personnel to ensure security in the town between now and December 28.

It also called on government to set up a commission of enquiry to investigate the Bawku situation thoroughly with the view to providing a lasting solution to the problem. "Unless this is done, the combatants will be at each others' throat at the least provocation," it added. Meanwhile, 12 people arrested with arms and ammunition during the clash were remanded in prison custody on Wednesday by the Bawku circuit tribunal. They will re-appear on December 29.