Bawku gunshot suspects granted bail

Two suspects arrested in Bawku over the latest gunshots in the volatile area have been released on bail.

Bawku Divisional Police Commander Chief Supt Tefutor Kaletsi confirmed the release of the two to Starr FM’s Tawakalitu Braimah.

According to Chief Supt Kaletsi, the two suspects denied being behind the Friday, December 26, 2014 gunshots in the Municipality.

The shots were fired on the eve of President John Mahama’s visit to the area to be part of the Samanpiid festival.

It is celebrated by the Kusasis in the Bawku Traditional Area in November and December every year. Its significance is to give thanks to the gods for a good harvest. There are hosts of sacrifices followed by merry-making to climax it.

Kusasis are a tribe in the north eastern and the south eastern part of Ghana and Burkina Faso (Boulgou Province), respectively in West Africa. In Burkina Faso, the neighbouring language to the west is Nankani, a related dialect to Frafra and to the north and east, the Bissa.

Kusasis in Ghana are north of the Gambaga scarp. To the west are the Talensi, Frafra and Nabdem; to the south are the Mamprusis and east are the Bimoba and Moba. Kusasis occupy about 700 and 3,300 square km in Burkina Faso and Ghana, respectively.

They occupy two administrative districts in Ghana known as Bawku East and Bawku West Districts in the Upper East Region. About 75% of Kusasis live in Ghana.

Bawku has experienced recurrent inter-ethnic conflicts which almost always result in deaths and destruction of property. The fighting has also disrupted development efforts in the area.

Speaking as the special guest of honour at the festival, President Mahama said: “Our ethnic diversity and cultural diversity here in Bawku must be a source of strength and not a source of weakness and division. I know that the majority of people in Bawku here want to live their lives in peace. This majority outnumbers the few who wish to thrive on the division amongst us.

He described the gunshots of Friday ahead of his visit as “unacceptable”, adding that: “Sadly, today, as a result of persistent communal and ethnic conflicts, Bawku is a pale shadow of itself. Our children’s education is in jeopardy.”