Appeal to Govt to intensify efforts to bring peace to Bawku

Bawku (U/E), Feb 14, GNA - Security Personnel in the Bawku area on Thursday called on the Government to do all that it could to bring lasting peace to Bawku soonest.

They said the people were too stubborn and refused to cooperate with the Security as evidence showed yesterday when civilians disrupted the six-week old peace that the Security had tried to maintain and started shooting from hidden place while others threw stones at Security Personnel and even tried to snatch their guns. The Security Personnel made the call when they briefed the General Officer Commanding, The Northern Command of Ghana Army, Brigadier General Joseph N. Adinkrah and Members of the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC) on the present situation in Bawku. The Security Personnel said it was necessary that peace returned to the area before the farming season that started from May 2008 since the people needed to be sure of their security if they had to go to their farms. "It is also important to have peace when political campaign for this year's elections start."

Captain Victor Abbey, Officer Commanding Airborne Force in Bawku, who gave an overview of the situation, said the Security had to exercise a lot of restraint on Wednesday in order not to hurt the people but finally had to give some warning shots and to arrest six persons before calm returned to the area.

He cautioned the Media against publishing rumours from telephone callers and asked that only accredited reporters should report on Bawku. He noted that news reports influenced the behaviour of the people and any reports on one side could incite the other to start fighting. Brigadier-General Adinkrah appealed to all Opinion Leaders in the Bawku area, regardless of their ethnic group to encourage the youth to cooperate with the Security Personnel in Bawku so as to bring peace to Bawku.

He noted that it was not good for children to grow up in a conflict area when they deserved to enjoy their childhood days in peace like other children, "and so the elders should see it as their responsibility to help to bring and maintain peace for a better future," he said. He said the main aim of the security Personnel was to help to bring peace to the area and not to take sides with any of the feuding parties and urged the people to see the Security Personnel as a neutral body working in the interest of all.

Mr Alhassan Samari, Upper East Regional Minister, reiterated his appeal to the people to lay down their arms and give peace a chance, saying that the effects of Bawku conflict was not limited to Bawku alone but covered the entire Region. He said development; commerce; education and health were negatively affected. Mr Samari urged the Security Personnel to stay united and work in unity so as to be able to control the situation effectively.