Elders of the Mamprusis appeal to govt

Bawku (UE) , Jan. 24 , GNA- The Elders of the Mamprusis in Bawku on Wednesday reiterated the need for government to help find a lasting solution to the recurring conflict between the Mamprusis and Kusasis in the area.
This was contained in a Press Statement issued by Alhaji Ibrahim Adams, a Mamprusi elder and read by Mr Mohammed Tahiru Nambe, Spokesman for the Mamprusis at a press conference held at Bawku in the Upper East Region.
The statement mentioned the major causes of the conflict
as chieftaincy, land, the Samanpiid festival and politics. The statement denied that the ruling of the Supreme Court
on the chieftaincy issue was in favour of the Kusasis "In short the Supreme Court did not make any ruling as
nothing was adjudicated upon, following the application of
Alhaji Adams to discontinue his action". The statement noted that another issue that caused the
conflicts in Bawku and needed serious and immediate
attention was land. It explained that in 1984, the government
instituted a committee chaired by Col. George Minyilla to look
into the causes of the recurring conflict and the issue of land
featured prominently. It said up till date, Mamprusis who had lived in Zabgu, a
community near Bawku for over 150 years had been
prevented from visiting Zabgu and their farmlands seized by
the Kusasis. It indicated that another problem at stake was the
perception that NPP supporters in the area were largely
Mamprusis whilst NDC had more Kusasi following, and that
often brought about tensions and clashes among the two
tribes especially during election periods. The statement therefore entreated government,
stakeholders and opinion leaders to look at the issue
dispassionately and resolve it once and for all to avoid its
reoccurrence and pave way for development.