The Upper East Regional Peace Council has urged the factions involved in the Bawku conflict to refrain from violence and embrace peace.
This follows a tragic attack on Sunday, October 27, when gunmen ambushed travellers on the Bolgatanga-Tamale highway near Gbimsi, a community near Walewale.
The gunmen set up roadblocks and allegedly picked out Kusasis for their killing spree, according to reports.
Passengers caught in the blockade underwent identity interrogations; 15 people were killed while two vehicles were set on fire.
In a statement, the Chairman of the Upper East Regional Peace Council, Alhaji Sumaila Issaka, stressed the need for stability in Bawku, calling on security services to be proactive in ensuring the safety of all residents and travellers along the Bolgatanga-Tamale Highway.
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“While appreciating the efforts of all stakeholders, especially the security services and the people of Bawku, the Council wishes to call on parties in the conflict to heed the call of nonviolence and protect the peace so that Bawku can return to stability.
“The Council also wishes to call on the security services to be proactive in ensuring the safety of all people in Bawku and of all travellers on the Bolgatanga-Tamale Highway.
“In this regard, we call on all residents of Bawku to support the law enforcement agencies to implement actions that will help ease the tension and allow people to pursue their livelihoods in a more predictable manner.”
In response to the situation, the government has imposed a curfew in the area, citing Chief Alhaji Seidu Abagre’s presence as a significant threat to residents’ safety.
The curfew, which commenced on October 28, 2024, and lasts from 6 pm to 6 am, aims to restore peace and order in the area.
The decision was made after an emergency national security meeting, chaired by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, due to significant disturbances affecting public peace and security in Bawku and its environs.
These disturbances have resulted in the loss of numerous lives, with a looming threat of escalation beyond Bawku.
The Bawku chieftaincy dispute dates back to 1931. It revolves around the occupation of the Bawku skin, which represents chiefly authority in the Bawku traditional area.
The conflict between the Kusasi and Mamprusi ethnic groups has been ongoing, with historical contestation and political interference fueling tensions.
In recent years, the conflict has been characterized by recurring waves of violent clashes, resulting in deaths, injuries, and property damage.
The surge of arms in Bawku has also contributed to the conflict’s escalation, with many residents feeling obliged to arm themselves for protection.