The Upper East Regional Peace Council is urging residents and parties involved in the Bawku chieftaincy conflict to abandon violence and pursue peaceful methods to resolve their disputes.
This call comes in response to recent escalations in violent clashes within Bawku and its surrounding areas, which have claimed over 20 lives and left many injured since last Thursday amid ongoing chieftaincy tensions.
In a statement, Chairman Alhaji Sumaila Issaka emphasized that resorting to violence will only exacerbate the situation in the region.
“The Upper Regional Peace Council has noted with profound sadness the recent happenings in Bawku,” the statement lamented.
“This is so much so after many fruitful engagements by all stakeholders and a period of calm for the most part of the year, leading to the easing of the curfew and peaceful celebration of the Damba festival. However, since October 24, 2024, the situation in Bawku has deteriorated resulting in the loss of lives and creation of fear and insecurity in the area, even extending to the Bolgatanga-Tamale Highway.
“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 non-violence and protect the peace so that Bawku can return to stability.”
The statement emphasized the need for security agencies to maintain a high standard of professionalism while actively ensuring the safety of all individuals in Bawku, along with travelers on the Bolgatanga-Tamale highway.
It also appealed to the residents of Bawku to work in partnership with law enforcement to foster actions that would alleviate tension, enabling the community to engage in their daily lives with greater stability and predictability.
According to reliable sources, the recent clashes in Bawku stem from the reported return of a newly enskinned chief, appointed by one of the factions involved in the ongoing chieftaincy conflict.
A High Court had previously issued an arrest warrant for this new chief, deeming the enskinment illegal. However, the court recently withdrew the warrant, allowing the chief to return to the area, which ignited tensions and ultimately led to gunfire, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.
The violence escalated following the alleged killing of an 11-year-old girl by one of the factions. Last Thursday alone, over 20 individuals were reported dead in Bawku, while an additional eight people were killed on the Bolgatanga-Tamale highway near Walewale in a related attack.
In that incident, unidentified armed men blocked vehicles on the highway, opened fire on travelers, and caused numerous injuries alongside the fatalities.