Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, has issued a plea for calm amidst tensions in Bawku in the Upper East region.
Addressing the public in an interview, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, serving as the spokesperson for the Chief Imam, expressed deep concern about the ongoing conflict in Bawku.
He emphasized that the situation is particularly troubling for the National Chief Imam, as they have kinsmen residing in the affected area.
Tensions are escalating once more in the Bawku area after the reported killing of three young men, allegedly by military officers.
Eyewitnesses claim that the young men had not engaged in any actions justifying their arrest and subsequent killing by the soldiers. In contrast, the military refutes these allegations, asserting that the soldiers acted in self-defense.
Residents are calling for justice for the killing of the young men.
Reacting to the situation, Sheikh Shaibu stated that the predominantly Muslim population of Bawku should look to the Qur’an’s teachings of peace and let peace prevail.
“I use the voice of the National Chief Imam to call on the people of Bawku because they’re largely Muslims, and I want to call them to look at the spirit of peace as established in our own language and the greetings that we greet – As-salamu alaykum – peace be upon you.
“They should look at this and look at peace as one of the virtues and values of Islam and once silence the gun, break the cycle of vengeance, sound more conciliatory, let’s explore more opportunities for negotiated peace through dialogue and know that as we do so, we’ll be able to reach [peace],” he said.