JOINT STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL PEACE COUNCIL & CSOs REGARDING THE BAWKU CHIEFTAINCY

The National Peace Council and our partner CSOs are worried about the protracted conflict in Bawku. The unfortunate events have led to loss of lives and destruction of property, and the imposition of curfews on the Bawku community. The situation has not only deprived the people their sources of livelihoods but also, affected the education, health delivery and other commercial activities required for development.

The NPC has observed that between 2013 to 2017 when the parties used dialogue and other non-violent mechanisms, they were able to resuscitate the Bawku Inter-Ethnic Peace Committee (BIEPC) which has served as ‘insider mechanism’ for the restoration of peace in Bawku. With these engagements and dialogues, the parties achieved a lot of successes which resulted in the de-escalation of the conflict and a return to peace until the recent relapse.

The Council and our CSO partners wish to call on all actors in the conflict to cease fire to create the enabling environment for the National Peace Council led team to begin the role out of nonviolent strategies from short to medium term to address the grievances fueling the conflict. This call, particularly, goes to the traditional leaders and youth groups of both the Mamprusis and the Kusasis.

The National Peace Council led team, intends to continue its intervention from April 2022 and do hereby, call on all the parties to support and cooperate with it to find enduring solutions to the problem.

The Council concludes with an appeal to all those who make statements on the matter, either in print, radio or social media to do so with circumspection and are respectfully urged to restrain themselves from pronouncements that could exacerbate the situation.

Thank you

SIGNED
REV DR ERNEST ADU GYAMFI
CHAIRMAN