The Inspector General General of Police (IGP), Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has assured the people of Bawku and its environs that members of the security will continue to remain neutral in the course of the discharge of their duties to restore peace in the area.
He said the relationship between the security agents and civilians was indispensable, hence the need for collaborative efforts to curb the age long chieftaincy dispute in Bawku.
The IGP gave the assurance when he addressed stakeholders at the forecourt of the palace of Bawku Naba, Zug-Raan Naba Asigri Abugrago Azorka II, in Bawku of the Upper East Region, Friday as part of his official visit to the area.
His visit to the area was to garner first-hand knowledge information and assess the security situation on the ground after police and civilians clashed on Wednesday, resulting in the death of one person.
The one who died was identied as Fuseini Iddrisu, with five others sustaining serious injuries in the course of the scuffle.
A number of houses belonging to police officers, including that of the Bawku Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Adamu Seidu, and Sergeant Likpiakib Yenube, were vandalised and set ablaze by some disgruntled youth.
The Bawku conflict, which have being raging on for some time now, got escalated last Thursday leading to the torching of the residence of the Member of Parliament for the area and also Majority leader, Mahama Ayariga.
the house of the Member of Parliament for Pusiga, Hajia Lardi Ayamba Wiidi, had her house set on fire leading to the loss of properties running into thousands of Ghana Cedis.
The IGP rendered an apology on behalf of the uniformed men and women over the disturbance, stressing that “Naba, I want to assure you that the military, the police and all other sister agencies of the security have a responsibility to contribute to the restoration of peace in Bawku, and it is always our intention to make sure that we remain neutral in the course of our discharge of duties.”
He also appealed to the Paramount of the Bawku Traditional Area, Zug-Raan Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, to intervene and ensure there was peaceful co-existence between the security and civilians in the area to ensure lasting peace.
He added that “Where we have gone wrong in the course of our duties, we want the people of Bawku to forgive us, and in fact, we will make sure that we provide the men and women who are neutral to work here.”
Mr Yohuno also appealed to the youth of Bawku to lay down their arms and forge for lasting peace and peaceful co-existence.
“As the IGP, it is my desire that I will ensure that we get more youths from Bawku to join the security services. I appeal to you to talk to the youth, we are going to assist them secure jobs in the security, hence they should embrace peace,” he stated.
Mr Yohuno, who led a delegation, made up of operations, investigations and intelligence officers to Bawku, later in the day visited the family of the deceased and the victims of the gunshot wounds, to commiserate with them on their unfortunate circumstances.
The Bawku town has almost become a ghost town, following widespread destruction, displacement of residents, and economic collapse.
The recent brawl between the security and civilians in the area has compelled the Interior Ministry to review the curfew hours which was initially from 8 pm-6 am, to 6 pm-6 am from now onward.
FROM FRANCIS DABRE DABANG, BAWKU
