Bawku must give peace a chance!!
Conflict, according to literature arises when the interest of two or more groups of people are incompatible. This difference of interest amongst groups of people is an everyday occurrence, and has become part and parcel of life.
Social scientists posit that non-violent conflict can be an essential component of social change and development, and necessary for human interactions.
However, when conflict turns violent, it erodes peace and stability that have been attained for many years or decades. To avoid this, authorities and opinion leaders always endeavour to build bridges of trust and manage competing interest of individuals, groups and communities.
The Ghanaian Times has devoted its editorial to the re-emergence of the long-age Bawku chieftaincy conflict, involving the two major ethnic groups in the area, Kusasis and Mamprusis.
Bawku, is the capital of the Bawku Municipality of the Upper East Region, and the people were co-existing peacefully with their neighbours in adjoining towns, and carrying out their economic activities, mainly, farming and animal rearing, and cross-border trading or business with neighbouring Togo and Burkina Faso. The people also inter-marry, attend school, funerals, and other social ceremonies together.
In fact, the area has key facilities that serve as a stimulus for productivity, prosperity and development.
The Manga Agriculture Station in the area has been working closely with farmers over the years, to enhance agriculture productivity through research into new crops varieties akin to local community.
Furthermore, the Bawku Secondary School, now Bawku Senior High School, and the Bawku Technical School, have become a hub for producing human resources for national development, not to also forget Bawku Highlanders, a formidable football club in the ‘70s and ‘80s that played a significant role in the country’s sports.
Yes, Bawku years back, had been in the news for good reason. But, not now the fame has diminished, and stories about the area is dominating the headlines for bad reasons!
Bawku is engulfed in extreme violence, resulting in killings of people, both civilians and security personnel, and destruction of houses and other properties, with impunity.
People, especially women and children, are displaced, flee the area and take refuge in the Bolgatanga Municipality and communities in Northern Region, among others, because Bawku is no longer safe for human existence.
The markets are no longer functioning effectively, and traders are unable to traverse Bawku to neighbouring Cinkasse in Togo to transact business, which has been a major economic activity for the people. Some state institutions have closed their offices and withdrawn their staff, bringing strain onto the people. Pregnant women cannot attend antenatal clinics for fear of being targeted and killed on the way to or from health facilities.
The municipal assembly cannot meet to transact business, to facilitate development.
At the heart of this protracted chieftaincy is the claims and counter claims being fuelled in social and traditional media.
In an attempt to identify the causes of the Bawku conflict, some people point accusing fingers at politicians, apart from other historical reasons.
While this cannot be ruled out, the truth is that Bawku can attain peace only if the factions, supporters and ‘dispute contractors’, who earn a living through the “spoils of the conflict”, come together and embrace peace.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s acceptance of the government’s overtures, to help bring to an end the conflict, is welcoming news, following his track record of resolving the Dagbon chieftaincy issue.
However, The Ghanaian Times hastens to add that this can only be a complementary move, to achieve the desire results of bring lasting peace to Bawku. The factions in the conflict need to reciprocate whatever initiative that might come from individuals, groups or government.
We appeal to the good conscience of the people in Bawku to lay down their arms, tone down on their media engagements, and allow the peace building to work.