Alhaji Sumaila Issaka, the Chairman of the Upper East Regional Peace Council, says inviting the Paramount Chief of the Bawku traditional area Bawku Naba, Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, and the Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, Naa Bohagu Abdulai Mahami Sheriga in a one on one peace talk by the National Peace Council will bring a lasting solution to the unfortunate killings in Bawku. Apexnewsgh.com report
The Regional Peace Council Chairman shared this opinion during an interview with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com on Thursday, December 22, 2022.
“The Mampurusis have Nayiri as their overlord, he speaks and what he says is final, the Kusasis have Bakwu Naba as their overlord when he speaks whatever he says is final. I think should be able to get these two for the National Peace Council to sit them down. You see, what I have also noticed is that there are some particular persons in both palaces what they say is also final, they kind of speak for the two chiefs. Whatever, Bawku Naba said, there are certain persons in there who must have spoken to him earlier, and the same in Nayiri Palace. That’s my opinion though”. He stressed
He further said, “Even though I know they are fixed with their decisions, I mean where they want to go, if we get them to sit down, I know certain facilitators that can work on them for them to see reasons why people are dying in Bawku. Maybe just because is not affecting them directly by their own children they are not seeing anything wrong with that. And if we are able to work on the two chiefs or kings with these two major speakers and some youth leaders that is where we will get the issue”.
Making reference to the earlier invites of the two overlords by the President, He said “There was a saying that President Nana Akufo-Addo invited the two overlords sometime back and had discussions with them separately. Now, we are not privy to what was discussed, because whatever we are going to say now is hearsay because of the reaction after that particular meeting.
Background
The first main conflict among the two ethnic groups in Bawku, the Kusasis and the Mamprusis, over who was the rightful custodian of the area erupted in 1983 during the Samanpiid Festival celebrated by the Kusasis to signify a bumper harvest.
In 1984, the conflict re-ignited again, that time over the ownership of farmlands.
Subsequent conflicts occurred in 1985 during the Samanpiid, in 2000 during the general election, and in 2001 and 2007, also during the festival.
Aside from these major conflicts, there have also been pockets of deadly skirmishes between the two factions over the years.
The disturbances have led to the loss of lives and properties, while many people have sustained varying degrees of injury in the process.
The Bawku Inter-Ethnic Peace Committee (IEPC), comprising Kusasis and Mamprusis, was inaugurated in 2009 to work towards the restoration of peace to Bawku.
The IEPC was charged with the responsibility of opening up genuine, constructive, and effective dialogue among all the people of Bawku, especially the major protagonists in the conflict.
Even though the committee became dormant for some years, it was reconstituted in 2015.
Meanwhile, the area continues to witness some continuous sporadic disturbances, with the latest incident occurring this month and leading to the loss of lives and property.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
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