Bawku confict – Adomonline.com

Situation in Bawku can cause a total civil conflict – Senyo Hosi

Joseph Odotei — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 14:32:09 +0000

Renowned policy analyst and former CEO of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, Senyo Hosi, has issued a stern warning that the ongoing conflict in Bawku, if left unchecked, could escalate into a full-blown civil war.

Speaking on the Newsfile segment hosted by Samson Lardy Anyenini on Joy News, Hosi expressed grave concern about the deteriorating security situation in the Upper East Region town, describing it as a national threat requiring immediate intervention from the state.

“If I were president, I would still ask Otumfour, or whoever to mediate the matter and give it a timeline. We can’t have this conversation in perpetuity; this region can actually cause total civil conflict in our country,” he added.

The Bawku conflict, rooted in longstanding chieftaincy and ethnic tensions, has seen intermittent outbreaks of violence between the police and youth in Bawku, resulting in casualties and a heavy security presence in the area.

Hosi criticized the government’s piecemeal approach to the crisis, urging a more comprehensive and neutral strategy. He called for inclusivity and a depoliticized response to the conflict.

“I would expect the NPP and the NDC for the first time to start rallying together because this risk is bigger than their own parochial and myopic interests,” he urged.

He further advocated for the government to adopt a decisive and transformative approach to resolving the situation, suggesting that the state should assume full control over the jurisdiction.

“You can’t continue to destroy the lives of the people there. You have an option: sit down and negotiate or the state will assume full ownership of the land and administration of the place,” he stated.

Hosi also called on the government to consider the economic and social aspects of the conflict, stressing the importance of understanding the underlying grievances.

“Beyond the guns and uniformed men, we must understand the economic desperation and historical grievances that continue to fuel this conflict,” he added.

His remarks come amid heightened concern over recent clashes between the police and youth in Bawku, with calls for a national roadmap to peace in the region continuing to mount.

Stakeholders are urging the government to prioritize conflict resolution mechanisms and sustainable peacebuilding initiatives.

Bawku conflict now driven by organised crime – Prof. Aning

Faridatu Seidu — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:47:48 +0000

Security consultant Prof. Kwesi Aning has stressed that the ongoing conflict in Bawku has evolved from ethnic tensions and chieftaincy disputes into a much more complex issue, now primarily driven by organised crime and a transnational network.

Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show, Prof. Aning explained that while the violence initially stemmed from ethnic and leadership struggles, it has now become largely fueled by criminal groups exploiting these divisions. He pointed out that the situation is far more complicated than most people understand.

“The presupposition and the common perception are that what is happening in Bawku is essentially a conflict between two groups of people. My agreement, however, is that it has transcended these two groups. It has also moved beyond chieftaincy issues,” he stated.

Prof. Aning emphasised that the primary force behind the violence is not ethnic or chieftaincy disputes, but organised crime networks that have capitalised on these tensions. “What we are witnessing in Bawku today is being driven more by criminality and a transnational network. These criminal groups use the notions of ethnicity, ethnic identity, and long-standing suspicions surrounding chieftaincy to further their agendas,” he added.

While he refrained from revealing sensitive details about the criminal groups involved, he underscored the growing complexity of the conflict. “But I cannot delve too much into this, as I hold a public office, and such matters are sensitive,” he explained. Nonetheless, his comments highlighted the significant role that criminal networks are playing in perpetuating the violence in Bawku.

Prof. Aning also criticised the widespread narrative that the conflict is merely about ethnicity or chieftaincy. He warned that this oversimplified view only exacerbates the situation.

“The argument that it is simply an ethnic or chieftaincy issue is false. It does not help the situation at all. In fact, it may even worsen tensions, which are already at a breaking point,” he cautioned.

Furthermore, Prof. Aning pointed to the government’s failure to effectively address the crisis, blaming a lack of resources and strategic planning. He described the situation as precarious, warning that it is on the brink of escalating into an even more destructive conflict.

“I can assure you that the situation is delicate, on the verge of becoming a scorched-earth policy. We do not have the necessary resources or the strong foundation to resolve this effectively. There is a need for more strategic focus, and without that, the crisis will only deepen,” he said.

In a somber assessment of the government’s capabilities, Prof. Aning concluded, “That I can tell you, and we cannot calm the conflict. We don’t have the resources, we don’t have the backbone.”

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Mahama to engage Asantehene on Jan. 19 over Bawku conflict

Faridatu Seidu — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 12:27:21 +0000

President John Mahama is set to visit the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, this weekend as part of his ongoing mediation efforts to secure lasting peace in Bawku in the Upper East Region.

President John Dramani Mahama undertook a critical peace-building mission to Bawku and Nalerigu on Tuesday, January 14.

The visit underscored the President’s unwavering commitment to resolving the protracted conflict in Bawku, which has plagued the region for decades.

During his visit to the overlord of the Mamprugu Kingdom, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga II, President Mahama reiterated his government’s dedication to prioritizing peace.

“I just came to appeal to him and his subjects to exercise restraint and patience and trust that we will resolve this matter amicably. So, I’m just appealing to my father that they should exercise patience while I set up the government,” he said.

He also recalled his last briefing with former President Akufo-Addo just before he ended his tenure, highlighting some mediation efforts that were undertaken.

“In my last briefing with Nana Akufo-Addo, before he left office, he briefed me about some mediation efforts that they were undertaking. I wish to be able to discuss it with him and see how we can continue that effort. I know that he and the late Yagbonwura and Otumfuo were the ones who solved the Dagbon problem,” he recalled.

President Mahama emphasized the need to visit the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on January 19, since the Asantehene played an essential role in resolving the Dagbon conflict.

“Nana Addo gave me a hint that Otumfuo has been playing some role, and so I’m supposed to be with Otumfuo on the 19th of this month. So, when I go, it is one of the issues I will discuss with him. Whatever comes out of it, I will inform my father [Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga II],” he concluded.

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