Victims of Bawku conflict receive roofing sheets
Regional co-ordinating council reacts to MPs' letter to Kufuor
Kusasi students call for permanent solution to Bawku Crisis
Electoral Commission clarifies Bawku East DCE elections
Inter NGO Consortium calls for peace in Bawku
Aliu calls for peace in Muslim communities
Bawku women happy with curfew as husbands stay home
Minister of Interior says situation in Bawku now firmly under control
Bawku (Upper East) 05 February 2002 - Bawku, one of the brisk commercial towns in Northern Ghana, has suffered major economic setback in recent times due to series of factors, the main one being instability.
A Ghana News Agency survey showed that the other factor responsible for the decline in commerce in Bawku is that it has no central market. An old one was demolished about five years ago for re-construction under the urban three projects.
However, the execution of the project suffered a setback due to the death of the contractor in a motor accident shortly after work begun. Virtually every part of Bawku is now a market with mini-markets dotting all parts of the town the people deem appropriate.
Ironically, two other markets near Bawku - Bazua and Zebilla - are growing at a faster pace with traders from the Northern Region, Upper West and some parts of the Brong Ahafo Regions patronising them.
An interview with the business community in Bawku revealed that some businessmen and women from Bawku have re-located their businesses to other parts of the region notably Bolgatanga and Zebilla.
While some traders felt secure doing business in Bawku, others said they did not, citing the general insecurity and the decline in commercial activities as their reasons.
The decline in business is further reflected in the assembly's revenue mobilisation. It collected 507.2 million cedis as against an estimated revenue target of 749.3 million cedis at the end of December 2001.
The District Co-ordinating Director, Mr. Ibrahim Alhassan attributed the assembly's plight to looting of its coffers by revenue collectors in the wake of the conflict last December.
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Bawku (Upper East) 18 January 2002 - The Minister for Defence, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor has stated that the government had no intention to set up military barracks in the Upper East Region because of the Bawku conflict.
He explained that the operation of military camps involved huge sums of money, which the government could not afford now, considering the economic base of the country.
Dr Addo Kufuor was reacting to a question at a Peoples' Assembly held in Bawku on the possibility of establishing a military camp in the town in view of the persistent clashes between the Kusasis and Mamprusis.
He explained that creating military barracks was not a solution to the Bawku conflict but the people's own desire to bring peace to themselves by sitting at a round table conference to bridge whatever differences that existed between them.
The Minister said if the government considered creating a military barracks in Bawku then, it would have to satisfy other conflict areas with similar provision, which he said the government could not afford.
He said setting up barracks was not a decision for him to take alone but a decision from the Armed Forces Council. He gave the assurance that he would take it up to the Council for consideration.
Bawku has been a conflict area since Independence. There had been numerous clashes between the Mamprusis and Kusasis with the most recent one in December 2001 claiming the life of about 60 people. The Police and the Military have been deployed to area.
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Bawku (Upper Eastern) 11 January 2002 - There was massive turnout in Bawku on Wednesday when a team led by the Defence Minister, Dr. Addo Kufuor, addressed a people's assembly.
The various ethic groups backed by their dance troupes performed at the grounds to show their preparedness for unity and development, amidst tight security. Recently, violence erupted at Bawku among the Mamprusis and the Kusasis where a number of people lost their lives and properties were destroyed.
Dr. Kufuor told the people that the forum was not a political rally but an opportunity for the public to either criticise the government or praise it for its performance in the past year.
He said as a government that respected democracy, it was bound to account to the people on its stewardship and make amends where necessary through open discussions and suggestions from the governed.
He mentioned some achievements of the government and said in the past year, Ghanaians had been free to express their opinions without intimidation and harassment through the repeal of the criminal libel law.
He added that the value of the cedi had been stable, while inflation and bank interest rates also reduced. External reserves he said had also shot up thereby stabilising the economy.
During question time, most of the questioners wanted to know when a permanent solution would be found to the Bawku crisis, because they alleged that the commercial features of Bawku were dying off, while development was retrogressing.
They appealed to the government to expedite action to resolve the Bawku crisis once and for all to redeem the image and status of the area. The team earlier visited the Bongo District where a similar forum was held.
Dr Addo Kufuor, gave an assurance that the trunk road linking Bolgatanga and Bongo would be tarred from a loan facility of 220 million dollars acquired from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Other members of the team included the Minister for Tourism, Madam Hawa Yakubu, Deputy Minister for Lands and Forestry, Mr Clement Elidi and Alhaji Mugtar Musah Bamba, Deputy Minister in the office of the President.
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Binaba (Upper East) 08 January 2002 - The Presiding Member of the Bawku West
District Assembly, Mr Anthony Aboku, at the weekend announced his defection from the NDC to NPP
Mr Aboku made the announcement at an NPP rally organised by the Bawku West constituency branch at Binaba. His decision to join the NPP, he said, stemmed from the fact that the good performance of the government in its one year in office was a clear indication that it could deliver as it had promised.
The Presiding Member said it was also to affirm his support for the District Chief Executive and to ensure that together they bring the needed development to the area.
He urged the people to rally behind the DCE, Mr Moses Appiah and vote massively for the NPP in the next election.
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Bolgatanga (Upper East) 08 January 2002- The Islamic Council for Development and
Humanitarian Services has presented 10 packets of roofing sheets worth five million cedis to victims of the Bawku ethnic conflict.
Alhaji Tahiru Seidu, the Council's Regional Representative and Deputy Chief Imam of Bolgatanga presented the items to the Upper East Regional Minister Mr Mahami Salifu. Mr Salifu said the donation would go a long way to relieve the sufferings of the people.
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Bolgatanga (Upper East) 04 January 2002 - The Upper East Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) has expressed disgust at portions of a letter written and signed by five
NDC Members of Parliament from the region to the President on the Bawku conflict.
It referred particularly to the aspect, which claimed that the President had withdrawn his nominee, Mr Abdul Rhaman Gumah, for the position of District Chief Executive for Bawku East after a controversy over the nominee's qualification for a second round election, and said that impression was misleading.
A statement signed by the Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr George Anaba, explained that by virtue of part four, section eight of the model standing orders for district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies, the nominee, having scored 50 per cent of the valid votes cast on May 17, last year, qualified for a second ballot.
Mr Anaba said the Regional Minister, Mahami Salifu had not entrusted his special assistance, Mr Gumah, with any executive functions in the district assembly as was being propagated by the MPs.
He said the letter to the President on the conflict purported to address issues but in fact sought to impute acts of indiscretion to the Regional Minister for appointing a special assistant.
The Co-ordinating Director said the appointment of a special assistant had been completely misinterpreted by the MPs and it was therefore necessary for the RCC to set the records straight.
On the issue of Mr Gumah's qualification for a second round ballot, Mr Anaba explained that 77 assembly members were present and voted on that day. Mr Gumah obtained 38 votes in his favour and 38 votes against him.
He said one ballot paper was discovered blank and therefore declared not valid. Mr Gumah was therefore declared by the Regional Electoral Officer to have obtained 50 per cent of the votes cast.
Mr Anaba said on the same day, one Mr J.M. Awimbilla petitioned the Regional Electoral Officer, seeking to prevent him from conducting a second ballot for the confirmation of Mr Gumah as DCE.
He said the Electoral Commission confirmed that by law Mr Gumah qualified for a second ballot, having obtained 50 per cent of the valid votes cast.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 27 December 2001- Kusasi students have expressed their profound displeasure and disgust about the numerous problems and the recent crisis that engulfed Bawku and called for a more permanent solution to the menace.
The displeasure was contained in a five-point resolution adopted and issued by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Chapter of the Kusasi Students Union, following an emergency meeting held in Kumasi on Sunday.
Mr Paul Jeremiah Awabigo and Mr Jerry Asana, President and Secretary of the KNUST Chapter of the Kusasi Students Union, respectively signed the resolution.
The Union said: "We see the problems and the recent calamity at Bawku as a politically orchestrated game, geared towards denying the landowners of their right to determine their own affairs within their legitimate land".
As a first step towards enhancing peace in the Bawku area, the KNUST Kusasi Students Union advocated that all the minority ethnic groups including the Mamprusis at Bawku should fully recognise and also pay allegiance to the Bawku Naba Asigri Aburago Azoka II as the Paramount chief of the area.
The resolution said any minority group unwilling to recognise and also pay allegiance to the Bawku Naba should be made to return to their native land.
The Union, however, observed that the recent clashes at Bawku could have been averted: "If the leadership of the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) had heeded to public opinion poll, regarding the President's nominee for the position of the District Chief Executive for Bawku-East District Assembly."
The KNUST Kusasi students union suggested that as a further measure towards guaranteeing peace and consolidating it, it was crucial to unconditionally withdraw the nominee for the DCE position.
The resolution also called for the release of all citizens of Bawku, who were arrested and detained during the clash, "since their detention amounts to infringing on their fundamental human rights".
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Bolgatanga (Upper East) 24 December 2001 - The Upper East Regional Security Committee (REGSEC) has reduced the dusk to dawn curfew imposed on Bawku and surrounding areas to three hours.
The curfew now starts from 2am to 5pm. A statement from the REGSEC said the reduction of the hours followed a "return to normalcy in Bawku".
With the presence of combined military and police patrol teams, commercial activities have picked up. Civil servants that fled in the heat of the conflict have returned. The Eid ul Fitr was celebrated without any incident.
The Regional House of Chief at an emergency meeting in Bolgatanga on Friday expressed their solidarity and support for Bawku Naba Abugrago Azoka II, who is the President of the House.
About 60 people were killed and 48 other were injured when the Kusasis and Mamprusi clashed at beginning of December.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 19 December 2001 - The Electoral Commission (EC) on Tuesday confirmed that Mr Abdul Rahman Guma, the President's nominee for the position of District Chief Executive for Bawku East, obtained 50 per cent of the valid votes cast on May 17, 2001 and qualified for a second round of voting.
"The total votes cast in the case of the Bawku East is 76 and not 77 due to the single ballot that was rejected because it had no mark on it," Mr Kwadwo Sarfo-Kantanka, EC Deputy Chairman (Operations), told the Ghana News Agency in Accra.
"Mr Guma obtained 38 votes to his credit with 38 against him, making the required 50 per cent," he said. "In accordance with Article 243 (1) of the constitution, Mr Guna has obtained the 50 per cent votes required and should thus be given a second chance."
The Commission, in an apparent reaction to sentiments expressed by some leading politicians and citizens of Bawku on the issue, explained that it was not true that Mr Guma failed to obtain 50 per cent of the votes cast by the members of the District Assembly on May 17.
Mr Sarfo-Kantanka said the confusion arose out of the calculations and whether to consider the rejected single ballot as part of the members present and voting.
He said calculating the results based on the 77 members present Mr Guma's 38 votes worked out to 49.35 per cent, but calculating without the rejected ballot based on the 76 members who cast valid votes, the nominee obtained 50 per cent.
Mr Sarfo-Kantanka explained that public elections regulations recognised percentage of valid votes obtained by candidates as the basis for calculation and not the invalid/rejected votes.
He said if the president wished to maintain the nominee or otherwise, the Commission was ready to conduct the elections, if it was dully notified. Mr Sarfo-Kantanka admitted the conflicting position of EC's regional director on the issue but said a letter from Accra dated July 4, 2001 signed by Mr Albert K. Arhin, Director of Elections, sought to clarify the position and confirmed the elections results.
The Model Standing Orders for District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies Act 15 (1) states that the DCE for each district shall be appointed by the president with the prior approval of not less than two-thirds majority of the members of the Assembly present and voting at a sitting specifically convened for the purpose.
Section 3 mandates the Electoral Commission to conduct the voting for approval of the president's nominee. On election of the nominee, the model Act 15, (7,8,9 and 10) specifically states that in the event of the president's nominee polling two-thirds or more of the votes of the members of the assembly present and voting, the EC shall notify the president of the assembly's approval within seven days of the approval.
However, where the nominee polls 50 per cent or more of the votes cast but fails to poll the required two-thirds of the members present and voting, there shall be another ballot conducted on the nominee within 10 days of the first ballot unless the president withdraws his nomination.
It further stated that where the president's nominee fails to win the required two-thirds at the second ballot, the president shall withdraw his nomination.
The Standing Orders mandates the president to withdraw his nominee who at any time fails to poll 50 per cent of the votes of the members present and voting.
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Tamale (Northern Region) 18 December 2001 - The Northern Ghana sector of the Consortium of NGOs has appealed to the government not to relent in efforts to ensure lasting peace in Bawku and the country as a whole.
In a statement issued in Tamale, the consortium said it recognised the role that the government had played to ensure peace and security in Bawku, adding: ''without peace and security, there cannot be any meaningful development''.
The consortium, which is committed to working for peace and development in Bawku, comprises the Christian Council of Ghana, UNICEF, World Vision Ghana, Catholic Relief Services, Action Aid, Oxfam, Northern Ghana Peace Project and Assemblies of God Relief and Development services.
The statement appealed to citizens of Bawku to reciprocate the government's efforts at peace-building by laying down their arms as a sure measure of stopping the loss of innocent lives, including women and children.
They should also join the consortium to renew the peace process so that together a lasting solution to the conflict could be identified. The consortium noted that Bawku was lagging behind in development largely because of the frequent conflicts over the years.
"This has affected not only the effective delivery of social services but also restrained many NGOs from committing resources to complement the efforts of other development partners'', it said.
The statement urged chiefs, opinion leaders, politicians and all other actors to desist from making provocative utterances that would only fuel the conflict.
It advised other NGOS and donor agencies wishing to assist the victims with relief either in cash or in kind, to channel such relief through the Bawku peace initiative to ensure effective co-ordination and equitable distribution as part of the reconciliation process.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 December 2001 - Vice President Aliu Mahama on Sunday expressed concern about intra-Muslim conflicts in the country and urged Muslims to live by the tenets of Islam, which is a religion of peace.
Speaking at Muslim prayers at the Independence Square attended by thousands of people to mark this year's Eid Ul Fitr, the end of the holy month of Ramadan, he noted that the country witnessed a number of disturbing incidents during the period.
The most disturbing, Alhaji Aliu said, was the conflict at Bawku where fighting between the Mamprusis and Kusasis led to the loss of dozens of lives, injury to many and destruction to property running into millions of cedis. The "Government is now constrained to commit scarce human and financial resources to maintain peace in that area."
The Vice President said Muslim communities were the most deprived in social and infrastructural services. "Our people have limited access to education and health and other basic needs. Yet we are very quick to destroy the few facilities that we have at the slightest provocation."
Alhaji Aliu said the government was determined to reverse the imbalance in the provision of social amenities, but urged Muslims to practice tolerance to promote development and progress.
The Vice President also expressed concern about "emerging and almost entrenched" gross indiscipline among the youth saying this had eaten deep into their general conduct.
"This is a matter of concern to the government as we make efforts to provide for the training and retraining of the youth for employment. An indisciplined labour force is a danger to itself and to the economy and public order."
Alhaji Aliu said Muslims should be reminded that Islam was essentially a religion of peace and brotherhood and these should be reflected in their lives and relations with others.
He said Muslim communities should wake up and try to seek knowledge rather than waste time on unproductive conflicts. "Let us send our children to school ... It is through education that we can produce politicians, administrators, doctors, engineers etc., to lead our people from the present state of underdevelopment."
Alhaji Aliu told Muslims not to go back to their old ways after their 30-day fast during the Ramadam. "Let us rededicate ourselves to the study of the teachings of the
Prophet Mohammed to be guided at all times by the spiritual values ... so that peace, justice and tolerance will prevail in all Muslim communities."
The Vice President asked for prayers from all Ghanaians for Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, MP for Bimbilla and former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was in Dakar, Senegal, lobbying for the post of Executive Secretary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
West African leaders will meet this week in the Senegalese capital to elect a new ECOWAS Executive Secretary. In a sermon, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharabutu also noted that education in Muslim communities had been left far behind.
He urged Muslim parents to make education a priority and send their children to school.
He also spoke on the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS and said Muslims should go back to the teachings of the Sharia, which preaches faithfulness. Among those present were government officials and members of the diplomatic corps.
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Bawku (Upper East) 14 December 2001 - Some married women in Bawku have said they were now happy with the curfew imposed on the township owing to the ethnic clashes, because their husbands stayed home to help them in their household chores.
The women, who, according to the GNA wanted to remain anonymous, said prior to the curfew, their husbands stayed late outside and by the time they came home, they the women were fast asleep with the children.
They said the curfew had compelled them to complete their daily chores early to have enough time to sit with their husbands and the children.
In another development, the Bawku East District Co-ordinating Director, Mr Ibrahim Alhassan, said the conflict had adversely affected the revenue of the District Assembly.
He said revenue sources were mainly the markets but prevailing conditions had prevented traders from selling their wares and the few who patronised the markets were not willing to pay tolls.
Mr Alhassan could not, however, tell how much was lost but said that would be determined at the end of this month when the assembly's trial balance would be prepared.
Though commercial activities were gradually booming back, smugglers found it difficult to operate, because security forces searched all vehicles, entering or leaving Bawku.
Some smugglers, who brought in goods from Togo or Burkina Faso twice a day, now found it difficult to do so.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 14 December 2001 - Five NDC Parliamentarians from the Upper East Region on Thursday called for the removal of the Acting Bawku East District Chief Executive (DCE) from office, saying his presence in the area contributed to the present unstable situation there, however, the Regional Minister says there was no Acting District Chief Executive but his Special Assistant.
They also objected to the lack of transparency and objectivity on the part of the Regional Minister in the handling of the Bawku Peace Initiative sponsored by a coalition of non-governmental organisations.
In a letter to the President, Mr John Akologu Tia, NDC-Talensi, Mr Cletus Avoka, NDC-Bawku West, Mr Ben Achidago, NDC-Binduri, Mr Moses Asaga, NDC-Nabdam and Mr Albert Abongo, NDC-Bongo, said these were the main sources of the conflict.
"As the people's representatives who are privy to the facts on the ground, we shall be shirking our responsibility if we don't acquaint government, the good people of this country and the world at large as to the causes of the latest conflict in Bawku."
The Members said: "The appointment of Mr Abdul Rahman Guma by the Regional Minister as his Special Assistant to oversee the affairs of the District Assembly despite the fact that he was rejected as the President's nominee by the assembly in a poll dated May, 17th, 2001, by a vote of 51 per cent. His subsequent appointment was seen as an imposition on the people."
They said: "He polled only 49.3 per cent of the votes cast instead of the two-thirds as required by the Constitution. He also failed to secure 50 per cent to qualify him for a second round of ballot as demanded by section 16 (8) of the standing orders of the District Assembly."
The members said the Regional Minister foisted him on the assembly after the President withdrew his nomination. The MPs said the President had directed the Regional Minister to take personal responsibility over the administration of the district.
"The perception on the ground was that the Regional Minister had fraudulently imposed a DCE on the people and also that he had done this to spite them."
The members said despite pleas from well-meaning citizens of the Region to Mr Mahami to remove Mr Guma from office, the Regional Minister stood his grounds.
"Some group of people in Bawku were waiting for the least opportunity to show by might that the Regional Minister's special assistant must stay in office and damned the consequences whilst another group wanted him out as demanded by law. This was the recipe for the conflict which the Regional Minister knew, but failed to avert."
On the Regional Minister's role, they said he should have convinced the Mamprusi faction that pulled out of the peace process to return and beefed up security in the area as it became apparent that a crisis was looming.
The Regional Minister, Mr Salifu Mahami told the Ghana News Agency that the Bawku conflict was long standing and the immediate cause of the recent outbreak was the burning of a kiosk and a retaliatory burning of a cargo truck.
He said it was not true that Mr Gumah failed to obtain 50 per cent of the votes cast by the members of the District Assembly on May 17 since he obtained 38 of the 76 valid votes cast.
A letter from the EC dated July 4, 2001 and signed by Mr A. K. Arhin, Director Elections, for the Chairman said: "The total votes cast in the case of the Bawku East confirmation is thus 76 and not 77 due to the single ballot that was rejected because it had no mark on it. Mr Guna thus obtained 38 votes to his credit with 38 against him, hence obtaining the 50 per cent.
"In accordance with Article 243 (1) of the constitution, Mr Guna has obtained the 50 per cent votes required and should thus be given a second chance"
Mr Mahami said the Regional Electoral Officer arranged to hold a second round of voting but he was restrained by suit filed at the Bolgatanga High Court.
However, the suit was later withdrawn that paved the way for the holding of the second round but just as the election was about to commence Mr David Adenzi Kanga, Deputy Chairman of the EC in charge of Administration, rang from Accra to stop the elections.
"We have since been waiting for the EC to conduct the second round voting." Mr Mahami faxed a copy of the "Communiqué issued at the end of peace and reconciliation consultation among Kusasi, Mamprusi, Bissa, Moshie, Dagomba and
Hausa delegations from Bawku held at Damongo from Monday June 4 to Friday June 8 under the auspices of the Bawku Peace Initiative" to the Ghana News Agency.
It showed that the Mamprusis did not pull out of the meeting as the Members of Parliament claimed since their representatives Seidu Akalifa Bugri, Alhaji Sulemana Yirimea, Clement Bugri and Madam Hawa Ninchema signed the communiqué.
"The Members of Parliament are playing politics with an otherwise serious situation," Mr Mahami said.
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Bolgatanga (Upper East) 13 December 2001 - The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mahami Salifu on Tuesday inaugurated a 13-member crisis management committee to manage the Bawku crisis.
The committee is to identify relief requirements of victims, solicit relief assistance to assuage the plight of the people as well as adopt any prudent means to enhance the restoration of normalcy to the area.
The committee is chaired by the regional director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr. Anderson Anafo. Other members are the regional director of the Ghana Educational Service, Mr. Ken Dabour, the Deputy regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Nsire Agana, and the regional director of the Ghana National Fire Service, Mr. Stephen Kandue.
Others are the deputy regional director of the Bureau of National Investigation, the regional engineer of the Ghana Water Company Limited, Mr Abudulai Belo and the regional director of the Department of Social Welfare.
The rest are the military Task Force Commander in Bawku, Captain Michael Poku, the area manager of the Volta River Authority, Squadron leader John Tey, the regional Red Cross director, Mr Issifu Musa and the Public relations officer of the Regional Co-ordinating Council, Mr. Majeeda Kasum.
Mr. Salifu in his inaugural address said the consequences of the recent resurgence of the conflict at Bawku was unprecedented and charged members of the committee to work relentlessly in ensuring that calm returns to the area.
He said, the government was finding lasting solution to the Bawku conflict and other measures were in place to achieve the objective.
The minister re-emphasised his appeal to individual philanthropist and organisations to come to the aid of the committee with relief support to enable it care for displaced persons in the conflict.
Mr Anafo, speaking on behalf of members gave the assurance that they would discharge their duties with diligence and effectively to ensure that peace prevails in the area.
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Bawku (Greater Accra) 12 December 2001 - The government is to set up a high-powered commission to investigate the protracted Bawku ethnic conflict in a bid to finding a lasting solution to it, the Minister of Defence, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor announced when he led a government delegation to Bawku on Tuesday to assess the extent of damage.
The trip was also to prevail on the people to use dialogue, rather than arms, to resolve their differences. The delegation met the Bawku Naba, Abugrago Azoka II and his people and the Mamprusi Opinion Leaders separately.
Other members of the delegation included the Minister of the Interior, Alhaji Malik Alhassan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Minister of Tourism, Ms Hawa Yakubu and the Deputy Minister of Works and Housing, Ms Theresa Tagoe.
The rest were the Army Commander, Lt. General Yachie and Inspector General of Police, Mr Ernest Osei-Poku. Dr Addo-Kufuor said until an appropriate political solution was found the military would continue to be in Bawku for as long as it was necessary.
He said some people had always assumed that a democratic government was not strong enough to restore law and order and warned that ''anybody who makes the assumption would be making a dangerous mistake".
"If anybody takes the law into his own hands to undermine the security of the country, we would go at all length to get the person to ensure that peace-loving people live in peace. "The Government of Ghana is strong enough to defend all the people of Ghana."
Dr Addo-Kufuor said the conflict in Bawku was not a local one, as it was being perceived, because it tarnished the image of Ghana and scared investors away.
He, therefore, appealed to the chiefs and opinion leaders in Bawku to work closely with their people to ensure that peace returned to Bawku.
The Defence Minister also appealed to those still in possession of arms and ammunition to give them up in order to restore permanent peace in the area.
Alhaji Alhasssan said a few people responded to the government's moratorium to surrender their weapons, stressing that the government would ensure that all illegal weapons were retrieved.
He presented 200 bags of rice, 300 buckets, 25 cartons of cooking oil, 50 packets of roofing sheets, 500 mattresses and 500 blankets to the security personnel deployed at Bawku.
Nana Akufo-Addo said the biggest problem facing the government was how to find jobs for the youth irrespective of ethnic origin and it was, therefore, regrettable that the youth were using their energies to kill one another.
He urged the chiefs and elders to counsel the youth that, "life is better than death" and "all should make sure that all our lives go forward".
Naba Azoka appealed to the government to prevail on the Bawku Mamprusis to recognise him as the legitimate chief of Bawku.
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Bawku (Upper East) 12 December 2001 - The Head of Defence Intelligence, Major Samuel Yengbe has said that the military solution to the Bawku conflict was temporary and that only political will would bring about permanent peace in the area.
Briefing a government delegation, led by the Minister of Defence, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor at Bawku on Tuesday, Major Yengbe said it would not be in the interest of the country to withdraw the soldiers from Bawku now since the peace was fragile.
He also appealed to the government to appoint a substantive District Chief Executive (DCE) in an effort to resolve the impasse. The absence of a DCE had created a political vacuum at Bawku and the district assembly and its structures could not function effectively.
Major Yengbe said the number of weapons in Bawku was very alarming and that almost every household had an AK 47 rifle. Hr said these weapons were normally not kept in their homes and that the people were tight-lipped on providing information on where the arms were kept.
The military task force commander at Bawku, Captain Michael Opoku said the security agencies had seized locally made pistols, a shotgun, empty boxes of A.K. 47 ammunition and machetes.
Three suspects had been arrested for possessing a locally made gun and were assisting in investigations. Captain Opoku warned that the security personnel would pursue anyone, who undermined the security, 'to the extent that he or she would not have a place to hide.
The Bawku East District Co-ordinating Director, Mr Ibrahim Alhassan commended the security agencies for the rapid response to restore law and order.
He said education and health works, who left in the wake of the conflict have since not returned. Schools at Garu, Pusiga and Bawku, which were also closed down had not yet re-opened, in spite of the directive that all workers in the district must return to work.
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Tamale (Northern region) 12 December 2001 - The Bawku Students' Union of the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, has appealed to traditional rulers to bring their rich experience in conflict resolution to bear on the people of Bawku to maintain peace.
The Union called on Ghanaians "to consider the crisis in Bawku as a national problem and not for the people in the north alone, because the crisis could escalate to any part of the country.
A statement signed by President of the Union, Mr Adamu Seidu Abariche, said "we appreciate the role of the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, in helping to resolve the conflict in the Northern Region.
"We would, therefore, appeal to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to play a similar role in resolving the Bawku crisis".
The statement expressed the hope that steps taken by the government would ensure lasting peace in the area. The Union suggested the establishment of a permanent detachment of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at Bawku to deal promptly with any such situation in future.
The students also appealed to both sides involved in the conflict to exercise restraint and bury their political and ethnic differences and co-exist to ensure development.
"It is unfortunate that people who have lived together, inter-married, do business together, worship in the same mosques and churches can in the least provocation, resort to taking arms against each other," the statement added.
The Union appealed to factions in the conflict to adhere to peace initiatives of the Damongo Accord, the Local Council of Religious Bodies, and the West African Network for Peace (WANEP).
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Bawku (Upper East) 11 December 2001 - Sixty people have been confirmed dead and 2,500 displaced in the ethnic conflict between the Mamprusis and Kusasis last week.
A GNA report from Bawku on Monday reports the Bawku East District Chairman of the Ghana Red Cross Society, Mr Peter Aduala, as saying that 190 houses in and around Bawku were burnt down. A family has also reported that six of its members were missing.
Mr Aduala said about 30 funerals for those who died in the conflict were performed at Bawku on Monday. He said the immediate needs of the displaced persons were shelter and food and appealed to relief agencies to assist.
Meanwhile, first and second cycle schools which were closed down in the wake of the conflict had still not reopened despite the directive of the Upper East Regional Security Committee that all workers should return to work.
Some students of the Bawku Secondary and Bawku Secondary- Technical schools who went to school on Monday morning had to return home because their tutors failed to turn up.
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Bawku (Upper East) 11 December 2001 - The security agencies at Bawku have launched a manhunt for the assemblyman for Bansie Electoral Area in the Bawku East District for his alleged involvement in the murder of four Burkinabe citizens.
The assemblyman, identified only as Akortey, was said to have mobilised the youth of his area to ambush three vehicles in which the Burkinabe were fleeing last week's ethnic conflict.
A GNA report from Bawku quotes the District Coordinating Director, Mr Ibrahim Alhassan as saying that the Burkinabe, numbering 10, on hearing about the conflict, decided to make a detour through Bansie.
They were stopped and attacked by the rampaging youth. Six of them escaped but the four were killed and their bodies burnt and thrown into a nearby river. Their vehicles were also burnt.
This has created insecurity among Ghanaian travellers to Burkina Faso who fear revenge attacks. Mr Alhassan said the Burkinabe transport union had written to their counterpart at Bawku seeking an explanation to the incident.
He said he would advise the Upper East regional minister Mr Mahami Salifu to organise a meeting with his Burkinabe counterpart to discuss the matter.
Mr Alhassan said a Ghanaian delegation would have to take the initiative by going to Burkina Faso in order to forestall any conflict among inhabitants of the border villages. He said arrangements were being made to convey the vehicles to the premises of the district assembly.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 December 2001 - The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Sam Prempeh has suggested that the military should maintain a permanent presence in Bawku until a lasting peace is achieved.
Rev. Dr. Prempeh, who is also the chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana urged the government to find a lasting solution to the conflict and study the paper presented by the Bawku Local Council of Churches (BLCC) as well as the document on Bawku Peace Initiative.
In a press release issued by the church in Accra, Rev. Dr Prempeh described the loss of 28 lives so far and the destruction of the property as regrettable. He appealed to the warring factions to lay down their arms in the interest of peace and unity.
The Moderator advised the Christians and Muslims in the conflict to close their ranks and let the spirit of Ramadan and Christmas remind them of the need for peace, unity and tolerance.
He said it was unfortunate that almost a year after the parliamentary and presidential elections which left about 30 people dead and caused untold suffering the nation was witnessing the same scenario.
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Bawku warring factions unwilling to
surrender arms
Bawku (Greater Accra) 10 December 2001- Security agencies deployed to keep the peace at Bawku following inter communal clashes there are having a hard time disarming the warring factions. The people are neither willing to surrender the arms nor volunteer any relevant information.
"If they do, it is wrong information," a GNA story quotes a security source saying on Friday. The source said the security agencies had for the past two days cordoned-off and searched a number of suspected places but this did not yield any results.
They dug some sites following reports by some citizens but these turned out to be old graves. Though the situation in Bawku was calm the source said the conflict could ignite again if the military cum police detachment was withdrawn, because the ill-equipped Bawku Police alone could not subdue the warring factions.
In another development the dusk to dawn curfew imposed on the township was reported to be taking a toll on the Muslim community. Alhaji Mohammed Inusah, Imam of a local mosque said Muslims could no longer congregate for the early morning (Subhi), early evening (Maghrib) and late evening (Insha) prayers.
Alhaji Inusah said a special prayers at mid-night on the last ten days of fasting could not be observed as a result of the curfew. Muslims, who broke their fast in-groups, now had to do so individually in their homes.
Meanwhile, the sixteen victims of the crisis, who were airlifted to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital are said to be doing well.
"Instead of our 24 to 48 hours care, theirs is continuous. They are getting all the attention needed, no cash down," Mrs. Eleanor Odeamah, Principal Nursing Officer of the Accident Section of the hospital told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra on Saturday.
She said the hospital authorities have instructed the units providing treatment not to demand deposits, unless otherwise stated, although the treatment is very expensive.
Mrs. Odeamah said two of them were suffering from neurosis, a result of bullets in the brain, whilst some also received bullets in their livers.
GRi.../
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The Bawku East District Assembly has appealed to all workers who fled the area in the wake of the communal violence at Bawku to resume work this week since peace has returned to the district.
The assembly has also asked all educational institutions to immediately re-open the schools for normal classes to resume. The District Co-ordinating Director, Mr Ibrahim Alhassan, made the appeal in an interview at Bawku at the weekend. Many public servants, including workers of the assembly, fled the town to avoid the wrath of the warring factions when the violence broke out about a week ago.
Mr Alhassan said law and order has been restored in the town and that security, personnel will continue to protect life and property. He said two of the doctors at the Presbyterian Hospital are back at post while a doctor from the Ghana Armed Forces has also been posted to the hospital.
More shops and stores have now opened for business while debris on the roads is also being cleared. Mr Alhassan said, the conflict will have a lasting effect on development activities in the area as the little resources of the assembly will be used to cater for the security personnel forces.
He added that revenue mobilisation is also likely to suffer a serious setback because business activities have slowed down following the displacement of the residents. Meanwhile, the exact number of people who have lost their lives in the recent conflict is likely to be more than the official figure of 29.
A police source at Bawku has revealed that relatives of some of the victims did not report the matter at the hospital or the police station for the records to be amended.
The source alleged that during the conflict, a lot of dead bodies were found in and around Bawku, but that before the police could mobilise to collect them, they had been taken away.
The source appealed to residents to report the death of their relatives to the police to enable the security agencies to update data about casualty figures in the conflict.
The police said some bodies were either collected by relatives, friends or members of the various ethnic groups or secretly buried to hide the ethnic identities of the deceased from the other faction to forestall the situation where one group could declare victory in the communal fighting.
The source said the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Red Cross are currently in the conflict area to gather data on the extent of damage to life and property.
The police described the arms used by the warring factions in the conflict as very sophisticated and wondered how the people came by such weapons.
Meanwhile, due to the presence of both the military and police in the area, open hostilities between the warring factions have ceased.
It has, however, come to light that some residents sneak to the houses of notable personalities in the town at night to issue threats of death, despite the dusk-to-dawn curfew that has been imposed on the town. – Daily Graphic
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Bawku (Upper East) 08 December 2001 - At least 50 houses were burnt during Sunday's ethnic clash mainly between the Kusasis and Mamprusis.
The worst affected areas were Dauri, Misega and Zoko electoral areas, where most of the people sensing danger fled. Food barns were burnt down and there is general shortage of food and immediate food supplies are needed to save people from starving.
The bungalow of the Bawku Secondary Technical School Headmaster, Mr Awudu Agyerimia was completely burnt down. A computer and its accessories, official documents and all his personal effects were affected.
The Bawku East District Co-ordinating Director, Mr Ibrahim Alhassan, who conducted the press on a tour of some of the affected areas on Wednesday said the immediate cost of damage was not known, but from every indication it would run into billions of cedis.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) seeking to bring peace to the area have been organising seminars, dialogues and brokered peace accords endorsed by the two main factions, the Kusasis and Mamprusis.
This year's United Nations (UN) day for peace and reconciliation was specially dedicated to Bawku to get the people to appreciate the need for peace. In addition, the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mahami Salifu had initiated moves aimed at ensuring peace in the area.
In spite of these efforts the dispute got worse anytime it erupted. This time, for instance, the fighting was not between Kusasis and Mamprusis only. It embraced the numerous ethnic groups that have sought to protect themselves by also acquiring arms.
Advocates for peace in the area have suggested the combination of extensive military tactics to retrieve arms and diplomacy and education to bringing lasting peace to the area.
GRi../
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Bolgatanga (Upper East) 08 December 2001 - Security personnel in Bawku have arrested three suspects for questioning in connection with the death of a 24-year-old man at Garu, near Bawku.
The body of the unidentified man was found on the Garu-Bawku trunk road at about 4:30pm on Monday by a military/police patrol team. The body had a deep cut in the throat.
A wireless message released by the Regional Police Command in Bolgatanga on Thursday morning said information gathered indicated that the man was murdered by a group of Kusasi youth in Garu, who later deposited the body at the spot where the patrol team found it.
The message added that unknown persons damaged a major water pipeline that served the Bawku Township on Wednesday. However, a team from the Ghana Water Company Limited was sent to fix it under military and police guard and water supply to the township had been restored, the message said.
In a related development, the Regional Police Command in Bolgatanga disclosed on Thursday that Policemen on duty at the Binduri checkpoint near Bawku found two Russian-made SB guns during a search on a Vanef-STC bus last Tuesday, December four.
One of the passengers on the bus, Mousa Ouaba, who claimed ownership of the weapons, is assisting the police in their investigations. Another search on a mini bus at the same checkpoint the same day, led to the retrieval of eight bows and arrows. Just like the Vanef/STC bus, the mini bus too was on its way to Bawku.
The Police source added that one woman who was only identified as Akolpobilla, claimed ownership of the bows and arrows concealed in a fertilizer sack. She has been detained for questioning.
Meanwhile, military and police patrols have been extended to Garu, Zebilla and Kanga in anticipation of a spillage of violence to those areas.
At a meeting with non-governmental organisations (NGO's) in Bolgatanga on Wednesday, the Regional Minister, Mr Mahami Salifu, urged them to contribute humanitarian relief to help rehabilitate the displaced victims in Bawku.
He said food, blankets and medical supplies were urgently needed to cater for the victims and added that the magnitude of the problem was too much for the government alone to shoulder.
As at Thursday, the death toll in the conflict had risen to 28, following the death of one of the 16 wounded victims who had been put on admission at the Bolgatanga Government Hospital.
Fifteen others had severe gunshot wounds had been flown by helicopter to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
Meanwhile, reports say uneasy calm is currently prevailing in Bawku as a combined team of armed soldiers and police patrol the town. The curfew that was imposed on Monday was generally holding and life seemed to be back to normal during the daytime.
The GNA reports that a visit to the Bawku Township indicated that commercial institutions that were closed down in the heat of the conflict have resumed operations. However, first and second cycle schools were still closed.
Officials of the Ghana Red Cross Society were busy taking census of displaced persons to enable them assess their needs. In all over 50 houses, 20 stores and kiosks and about 15 vehicles were destroyed.
The Bawku East District Co-ordinating Director, Mr Ibrahim Alhassan told the Ghana News Agency that most of the displaced persons had been absorbed by the external family system.
Though the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital had resumed operation, some of the health workers, who fled in the wake of the conflict, had not yet returned. Patients, therefore, preferred travelling to Garu, about 18 miles from Bawku for treatment.
On the casualty figures, Mr Alhassan said the 28 reported dead were rather on the low side as many more died on the battlefield. He said those who died on the battlefield and those who were killed in revenge attacks were buried by relatives without reporting.
GRi../
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Bawku (Upper East Region) 06 December 2001 - The official death toll in the Bawku conflict has risen to 28 following the death of two of the 38 persons, who were admitted to the Regional Hospital at Bolgatanga with gunshot wounds, the Acting Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Nsiire Agana.
According to a Ghana News Agency story, arrangements had been completed to airlift those in critical condition to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.
The Regional Co-ordinating Council had given each of the wounded 200,000 cedis as pocket money. Meanwhile the 48 suspects, who were remanded in custody, when they appeared before the Regional Tribunal on Tuesday, were being transferred to prisons in the Brong Ahafo, Ashanti and Eastern Regions.
The Kussasi and Mamprusi ethnic groups clashed during the weekend following the burning of a kiosk belonging to one of the factions and what was perceived as a retaliatory move of the other.
The Regional Security Council (REGSEC) told newsmen on Tuesday that the Police and Military reinforcement had taken firm control of Bawku and surrounding areas and the people were able to move about freely.
Health workers, who deserted the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, had returned to post. A dusk to dawn curfew is still in place and brisk commercial activities characteristic of Bawku is yet to pick up.
Mr Mahami Salifu, Regional Minister, Brigadier George Aryiku, Officer Commanding the Northern Command of the Ghana Army, Mr Paul Quaye, Regional
Police Commander and officials of the Bawku District Assembly toured the area to assess the extent of destruction.
Areas affected included the Kumasi Number Two Station popularly called Justice Station, where shops, a cargo truck carrying oranges, a bus, a taxicab, two pickup vehicles, foodstuffs and petroleum products were burnt.
Three other Kumasi stations, Numbers One, Number Three and Number Four, the Ghana Co-operative Transport Association office, Miami Old Station and several houses were burnt. Addressing the soldiers, Brig. Aryiku warned them against aligning themselves with any of the factions and asked theme to remain neutral and conduct themselves professionally during the operations.
Brig. Aryiku urged them to disarm all persons with illegal arms and cautioned them to respect the rights of the people because their mission was not to bully but to bring peace and sustain it.
The Regional Minister commended the security personnel for their timely intervention and pledged the Regional Co-ordinating Council's preparedness to provide logistics to enable them to accomplish their mission.
Earlier, Mr Salifu held separate meetings with opinion leaders of both factions and urged them to bury their differences and forge ahead to build the district that "had been left to the mercy of conflicts and wars."
Both parties agreed to respect the peace and pledged to co-operate with security personnel to maintain order. They also expressed their dissatisfaction about media reports that linked the conflict to Osama bin Laden and asked the authors to retract it and apologise to them.
Students of Bawku Secondary School and Bawku Technical Institute had deserted their compounds following what they said the Kussasis had dubbed: "Chasing out our enemies from our land" campaign.
Mr Ernest Owusu-Poku, Inspector General of Police, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency confirmed the closure of some schools in the township following the clashes. "There is no lawlessness now since most of the inhabitants are staying indoors and everything is under control."
Bawku had been likened to Jerusalem where two different groups of people lay claim to the town - Palestinians and the Israelis.
The Mamprusi until the early 1980 were the rulers of Bawku but following persistent clashes it was resolved that the Kusasis, who were the owners of the land should be recognised and the Kussasi Chief Abugrago Azoka II became the Bawku Naba (Chief of Bawku).
Notwithstanding the arrangement, Bakwu remained a flash spot with the two ethnic groups clashing over the least of provocations.
Just before the 1996 elections a young man allegedly beat up his girl friend, who happened to belong to the other ethnic group. This episode, which should have normally passed as lovers' quarrel, degenerated into a serious clash during which some kiosks and houses were burnt.
When the 1996 election results were declared there was another clash between the two groups. Again after the 2000 elections there was a clash in which several people were killed and property destroyed.
GRi…/
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Bolgatanga (Upper East) 06 December 2001 - The Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) has created an emergency information and relief desk to co-ordinate and update information about the ethnic conflict at Bawku and possible donations to displaced persons.
The Regional Minister Mr Mahami Salifu, who announced this at a press briefing at Bolgatanga on Wednesday, said the creation of the desk was to ensure the dissemination of accurate information about the conflict for both the public and the press.
He said the RCC was cautious about releasing sensitive information on the Bawku events in order not to worsen the already tense situation, adding: "When there is nothing to present from credible sources I cannot do it".
Mr Salifu cautioned the press against sensationalism, and said press reports that indicated that the conflict was sparked by an argument over the Saudi born dissident, Osama bin Laden was wholly false.
He said the report in the December 3 issue of the "Evening News", had incurred the displeasure of both factions in the conflict and had been partly responsible for the escalation of the fighting.
The General Officer Commanding the Northern Command of the Ghana Army, Brigadier George Aryiku reiterated the readiness of the security forces to maintain law and order in Bawku and its environs.
He gave the assurance that the forces would discharge their duties with professionalism. Brigadier Aryiku said all utility services in the township would be protected and medical care and humanitarian support services would be extended top all who would need them. He therefore appealed to the people to co-operate with the security personnel to restore sanity to the area.
GRi../
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Bawku (Upper East) 05 December 2001 - The death toll in the bloody ethnic clash between Mamprusi and Kusasi at Bawku has risen to 26.
Although calm seemed to have come to the area, with the beefing up of military and police re-enforcement, life was dull and brisk commercial activities had reduced drastically because of mounting fear, suspicion and tension mounting among the people.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mahami Salifu, the Officer Commanding the Northern sector forces, Brigadier George Aryiku, the Regional Police Commander, Mr Paul Quaye and officials of the Bawku District Assembly toured the area to assess the extend of destruction caused by the conflict.
Property destroyed included the Kumasi Number Two Station popularly called Justice Station. It contained foodstuffs and petroleum products that was still burning during the visit. Shops, two Datsun Pick-up vehicles, a Mitsubishi taxi, a 207 Benz bus with registration number GR 540 N and a cargo truck carrying oranges were also burnt.
Three other Kumasi stations, Numbers One, Three and Four, the Ghana Co-operative Transport Association office, the Miami old station and several houses were burnt.
Addressing the soldiers, Brig. Aryiku warned them against aligning themselves with any of the factions. He said they should remain neutral and conduct themselves professionally during the operations.
Brig. Aryiku urged them to use their reputation won during international peacekeeping operations to disarm all persons with illegal arms. He said they should respect the rights of the people because their mission was not to bully, but to bring peace to the area as well as to sustain it.
The Regional Minister commended the security personnel for their timely interventions and assured them of the Regional Co-ordinating Council's preparedness to provide logistics to enable them accomplish their mission.
Earlier, Mr Salifu held separate meetings with opinion leaders of both factions. He urged them to bury their differences and forge ahead to build the district that "had been left to the mercy of conflicts and wars." Both parties agreed to respect the peace and pledged to cooperate with security personnel to maintain order.
They requested the withdrawal of media speculations that the conflict war sparked-off by an argument over Osama Bin Laden. Both parties refuted the allegation and asked for apologies from the authors of the story.
On Tuesday afternoon, 17 persons with gun shot wounds were transferred to the Bolgatanga General Hospital for attention. The Upper East Regional Tribunal at Bolgatanga had meanwhile, remanded 48 suspects on charges of indiscriminate firing of arms, obstructing traffic through blockade and causing damage to property.
GRi../
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 December 2001 - The Minister of the Interior, Alhaji Malik Al-hassan Yakubu on Tuesday said the situation in the Bawku area was now firmly under control following the reinforcement of military and police personnel sent there.
He said he had accordingly issued an executive instrument to back the curfew imposed in the area as a requirement for a controlled atmosphere and to enable the security agencies to contain the situation.
Alhaji Yakubu said this when he made a statement in Parliament on the communal violence that erupted in Bawku in the Upper East Region over the weekend.
He said so far, 18 people were reported killed and twenty-one wounded, property destroyed included a number of kiosks and stores and over thirty houses.
The Minister said following the deterioration of the situation, the Upper East Regional Security Council requested for reinforcement and as at the time he was talking there were a total of 130 military and 107 police personnel in the area and more reinforcements were expected fro Wa to supplement the number.
Alhaji Yakubu said steps were being taken to address the effects of the fighting in terms of medical and food relief and shelter requirements while strategies were being put in place to make it difficult for people to embark on further actions of violence.
He said it was well known that for over 50 years the area had been gripped in boiling chieftaincy conflict, essentially between Mamprusis and Kusasis which previous governments had taken various steps to solve but lasting and permanent solution had not been achieved.
Alhaji Yakubu said the NPP Government believed that the most efficacious approach should be the employment of preventive diplomacy which revolved on getting the feuding parties to dialogue constantly on their differences so that agreements reached would be the potent panacea to their problems.
He said President John Agyekum Kufuor on the assumption of office placed the Bawku issue on top priority and had held meetings with both sides of the conflict urging and encouraging them to live in peace and harmony.
The Minister said the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama had also been in regular contact and mediation with the opposing sides and had met with the Bawku Naba and reassured him of the government's concern.
Alhaji Yakubu reiterated the government's belief n the amicable solution to differences but it would also want to make it clear that insofar as the overwhelming majority of Ghanaians cherished peace and orderly life, government would give no chance at all to trouble makers.
He gave the assurance that "the security agencies were capable, able, willing and ready to secure the country firmly against trouble makers". Alhaji Yakubu said with just the two days of fighting, about 200 million cedis had been spent for logistics for victims of the conflict and the requirements of the security personnel.
He appealed to traditional authorities to take bold steps to settle chieftaincy and land disputes amicably since the glory of the institution was enhanced when the people lived in peace.
Members of Parliament also have a vital role to play and urged them to include preventive diplomacy in their interaction with their constituents while the media could also play a vital role by educating the people on the dangers of wars and the value of dialogue to address differences.
GRi../
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Bolgatanga (Upper East) 05 December 2001 - The official death toll in the Mamprusi and Kussasi conflict during the weekend remained at 18 dead with 21 seriously injured, the Upper East Regional Security Council told newsmen on Tuesday.
The injured, some with gunshot wounds, have been sent to the Regional Hospital at Bolgatnaga. It said 48 persons had been arrested and were being sent to the Tamale and Navrongo prisons.
Sixty Policemen from Wa and Tamale and 130 soldiers from Accra and Tamale had arrived at Bawku and were in firm control of the situation at Bawku and surrounding areas. Health workers, who deserted the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, had returned.
Students of Bawku Secondary School and Bawku Technical Institute had deserted following what they said the Kussasis had dubbed: "Chasing out our enemies from our land" campaign.
Seven students, who had been stranded at the Regional Administration at Bolgatanga said they did not have money to travel home and arrangements were being made for them.
GRi../
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Bolgatanga (Upper East) 04 December 2001 - Calm has returned to the Bawku Township after the Kussasi and Mamprusi ethnic conflict in which 18 people were officially reported killed and many others injured at the weekend.
This follows the deployment of police and military reinforcements
who intervened to stop the feuding factions from causing further mayhem. The
security agencies have penetrated the respective strong-holds of the two
factions during which a number of arrests were made. The Kusasi’s and
Mamprusi’s have been engaged in running battles using guns and other deadly
weapons after an initial argument over lotto transaction bet.
The Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC) on Tuesday morning held an emergency meeting in preparation for the arrival of the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Seth Obeng, who was due in Bolgatanga at 1200 hours from where he would fly to Bawku.
Even though, the REGSEC was yet to brief the press, information filtered through indicated that not a single weapon had been fired during the last 24 hours. It said the Police and the Military were in firm control.
Reports from Bawku indicated that health workers at the local Presbyterian Hospital had deserted and the injured would have to be attended to by the military medical team.
Mr Ernest Owusu-Poku, Inspector General of Police, told the Ghana News Agency that some schools in the township have closed down following the clashes. "There is no lawlessness now since most of the inhabitants are staying indoors and everything is under control."
He said the firing and burning of houses has also ceased with police and the military patrolling the township.
Meanwhile, GNA reports other sources as saying that most of the youth had deserted the town leaving mainly the elderly, women and children. The source said that the official casualty figures were still 18.
The source said the fact that some of the casualties may be Muslims whose relatives might quickly bury them may delay the tallying of the death toll. Bawku had been likened to Jerusalem where two different groups of people lay claim to the town - Palestinians and the Israelis.
The Mamprusi until the early 1980 were the rulers of Bawku but following persistent clashes it was resolved that the Kusasis, who were the owners of the land should be recognised and the Kusasi Chief Abugrago Azoka II became the Bawku Naba (Chief of Bawku).
Notwithstanding, the arrangement Bawku remained a flash spot with the two ethnic groups clashing over the least of provocations. Just before the 1996 elections a young man allegedly beat up his girl friend, who happened to belong to the other ethnic group.
This episode, which should have normally passed as lovers' quarrel, degenerated into a serious clash during which some kiosks and houses were burnt. When the 1996 election results were declared there was another clash between the two groups. Again after the 2000 elections there was a clash in which several people were killed and property destroyed.
GRi.../
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Forty die in ethnic clashes at Bawku
Bawku (Upper East) 04 December 2001 - The death toll in the
ethnic clashes in Bawku has increased to 40. Latest reports say hundreds of people
are fleeing the town to escape the violence which erupted between the
Mamprusi's and the Kusasi's. It is feared that more people are dead and the
Regional Security Council has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew in the area.
There
have been conflicting reports about what might have triggered the violence.
Eyewitnesses however told JOY-FM that the disturbances began last Saturday over
the ownership of a lotto kiosk which seemed to have been amicably settled. The
Kusasi's however woke up on Sunday to find that the disputed lotto kiosk had
been burnt down.
Suspecting
that the act was committed by the Mumprusi's the Kusasi's also burnt down a car
belonging to a Mamprusi and this resulted in sporadic clashes this morning. The
Bawku Township is said to have attracted a heavy Military and Police Presence
for the maintenance of Law and order. the about 30 policemen and a few military
officers in the area were unable to contain the situation and asked for
re-enforcement from Bolgatanga and Tamale. Twenty people – 10 from each faction
– have so far been arrested and are being held at the Upper-West regional
Police Command at Bolgatanga.
The
Director of the Police Public Relations Unit, Superintendent.A. Awuni who
described the situation as serious told JOY FM that more re-enforcements would
be sent to the area to secure the peace. There has been a long-standing dispute
between the two factions leading to tension between the two ethnic groups. The
most recent clashes between the two sides occurred in which many lives and
property were lost and many families also displaced early in the year 2000.
-Joy
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