Fighting starts once again in Bawku

...despite presence of Military personnel
Bawku (U/E), Jan. 2, GNA - Fresh violence erupted in Bawku at about 12 noon on Wednesday in spite of the presence of the Military, who are patrolling the Township in armoured vehicles.

Some residents told Ghana News Agency (GNA) that apart from the five deaths recorded at the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, seven more died on Tuesday but their bodies were not taken to the Hospital. They said two people were killed at the New Station; three at Natinga, near the Hospital and two others died near the Water and Sewerage Office.

Mr Alhassan Samari, Upper East Regional Minister, told newsmen on Tuesday after he had toured the affected areas in the Municipality to assess the situation, that 15 people have so far been arrested. He said they have been charged for possessing unlicensed weapons, causing damage to a police vehicle and blocking of roads and said they were in Police custody pending further investigation.

Mr Samari said 165 police personnel were deployed and 150 more would be added on Wednesday. Also a number of Military personnel from the Tamale Air Borne Force would be added to the 70 soldiers already on the ground.

He indicated that checkpoints would be mounted at vantage points in the Region, particularly in the Bawku area. There is a long standing chieftaincy dispute between the Kusasi and Mamprusi ethnic groups in Bawku, a thriving commercial centre, creating a volatile condition.

Violence erupted on Monday during the celebration of the Samanpiid Festival of the chiefs and people of Kusasi Traditional Area, when news came in that some people had been killed.

Speaking to the Media at Bawku, Chief Superintendent Peter Kin Gyinae, Divisional Police Commander of Bawku, explained that the three people, who were allegedly shot on Monday could not be associated with communal violence between the two factions.

He said criminals suspected to be Fulanis took advantage of the Samanpid festival being celebrated to create confusion, with the intention of stealing cattle and in the process killed the three people thereby sparking off violence.

He said that, when the case was reported, he quickly dispatched police personnel to Pusum near Bawku where the incident took place. Two of the deceased were lying on the ground whilst the other was dumped in donkey cart.

The Divisional Crime Officer Isaac Akligbe led newsmen to the Presbyterian Bawku Hospital mortuary where the three bodies had been deposited pending autopsy.

According to Reverend Jacob Wandumsi, Chaplin of the Hospital, the deceased were pronounced dead on arrival at the Hospital.