Bawku feuding factions asked to embrace peace
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Bawku, Hamza Amadu, has called on the two factions who are embroiled in conflict in the area to allow for peace and total calm to prevail, to pave way for development to thrive.
He said the ongoing conflict was impeding the execution of developmental projects.
He explained that the situation had destroyed the economic and social life of the people, and had compelled many to flee the area.
The MCE was speaking during the celebration of the Damba festival, marked in Bawku of the Upper East Region, over the weekend on the theme, “Embracing peace for sustainable development.”
A few projects the Municipal Assembly already awarded on contract before the escalation of the conflict had also been brought to a halt, he added.
He said the municipality, was also a beneficiary of some social intervention programmes, such as the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Project, popularly called Social Cohesion (SOCO) project; the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme (GSCSP); the Ghana Productivity Safety Net (GPSN), all World Bank credit facility, and the prosecution of the projects could only start if the conflict came to a halt.
He said the assembly, under the interventions, had planned to undertake projects, including the construction of a water closet toilet with mechanised boreholes in some communities, construction of Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS compound) with a mechanised borehole at Patelmi, renovation of Gentiga School, renovation of Bawku Central meat shop, among others.
According to him, the municipality was virtually struggling in all the sectors of the economy, and it would require all hands on deck to resuscitate the awful security situation there, so as to enable the municipality to bounce back in its economic prospects.
He also expressed grave concern about the withdrawal of services and support by donor countries to the area, stating the trend could exacerbate the woes of the people in that part of the region, and pleaded with them to rethink their decision.
He implored all stakeholders, especially the security to continue to discharge their duties professionally and endeavour to enforce strict compliance to curfew hours and any other regulations put in place to ensure lasting peace.
“To our media personnel, I implore you to be very professional in the discharge of your duties and do not allow others to use the media platforms to incite and infuriate one another but rather, to preach peace.
“I wish to sound a note of caution to all those who inundate the media space, especially Facebook, WhatsApp and radio stations with insults and unpleasant words to inflame passions to desist from the act,” the MCE advised.
The President for the Mamprugu Youth Association (MAYA), Bawku chapter called on the youth of Bawku to embrace restoring peace in the area, warning that those individuals who made provocative statements to incite the feuding factions, if identified, would be reported to the security for the necessary actions to be taken against them.
Meanwhile, this year’s Damba held in Bawku was marked under heavy security presence, due to the volatile security situation there.
Damba is a thanksgiving festival and time for families, both far and near, to meet, and socialise.
FROM FRANCIS DABRE DABANG, BAWKU
