The Mamprugu Youth Association (MAYA) has expressed concerns over the government’s recent declaration of a curfew in Bawku, citing that the move may not address the underlying issues fueling the conflict. Apexnewsgh reports
According to MAYA, the state’s actions, including the issuance of an “illegal” arrest warrant for Naa Alhaji Seidu Abagre, have contributed to the escalating tensions.
MAYA argues that the government’s interference in the Bawku chieftaincy dispute has exacerbated the situation, and that ignoring one side of the conflict while harassing them with arrest warrants and threats only serves to worsen the problem. The association questions the national security agencies’ assessment that Abagre’s presence in Bawku poses a threat to public safety and security, suggesting that this is part of a predetermined script by the state.
The association points out that the government has been silent on similar cases of parallel chiefs in other regions, such as the Ga State and Brong Ahafo region, but has taken a vocal stance on the Bawku case. MAYA urges the government to take a more neutral approach and enforce the Supreme Court ruling on the legitimate chief of Bawku, rather than meddling in chieftaincy affairs.
MAYA emphasizes that the government should prioritize finding a lasting solution to the conflict, rather than suppressing the rights of the peaceful Mamprusi faction. The association urges the government to bring perpetrators of violence to book and ensure that justice is served.
The statement was read by Counsel for Nayiri, Majeed Ahmed Amandi Esq.
Kindly read the full statement:
The Mamprugu Youth Association (MAYA) has noticed a Press Release from the Ministry of Interior declaring curfew in Bawku.
While MAYA welcomes any legal and human rights based measure to restore calm and stem the potential escalation of the conflict in Bawku and beyond, we wish to make the following statements;
The state that issued the arrest warrant, which a court of competent jurisdiction described as “illegal”, is what has led to the “significant disturbances affecting public peace and security and not the return of Naa Alhaji Seidu Abagre to his ancestral hometown of Bawku. The State currently managed by the government of Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Ado must do some self-introspection about the loss of lives in Bawku and desist from the wanton interference in the Bawku Chieftaincy debacle. Ignoring one side completely and continually harassing them with arrest warrants and threats of arrest only exacerbates the situation.
The so called assessment by national security agencies purporting that the “continued presence of Mr. Seidu Abagre in Bawku poses a substantial threat to public safety and security” is simply a sentence out of an already prepared script by the state. It is this script, which first tried to prevent him from going home after he was legally and legitimately enskinned as Bawku Naba by the Nayiri, the only enskinning authority of the Bawku Skin.
Government’s first misstep of describing the enskinment of Naa Alhaji Seidu Abagre as illegal is clear meddling in chieftaincy affairs, which the constitution of Ghana frowns upon. Only a court of competent jurisdiction can make such a declaration.
The Ga State, the Adoagyiri-Nsawam Area and Sampa in the Brong Ahafo region (involving both the Asantehene and the Dormaa Hene who have both enskinned chiefs to that stool) currently have cases of parallel chiefs.
It is curios that government is mute in these very similar cases where there are parallel chiefs in the country but only finds a loud voice in the Bawku case.
If indeed, Government is committed to taking all necessary measure to ensure the safety and security of the people of Bawku and its environs they need to do more. Beyond directing security agencies to enforce strictly the curfew and maintain law and order government should consider the following;
Do not be deceived by the big Kusasi lie that the Nayiri enskins someone alien to Bawku and sends him to rule over Kusasi.
Unlike the kusasi, none of whom can trace a forbear beyond a fourth generation, Mamprusi, founders of Bawku can trace their genealogy all the way back to the 17th century enforce the so-called Supreme Court ruling described as “celebrated” by none other than President Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo, which he claimed brought finality as to who is legitimate chief of Bawku.
President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo should apologise to Ghanaians and Mamprusis for attempting to aid in perpetuating the Kusasi fraud of the non-existence of such a ruling.
Government should stop meddling in chieftaincy and act as a neutral arbiter.
As much as the security feels the commuters plying Bolgatanga-Walewale-Tamale route require security escort, so do those plying Bawku Bolgatanga-Bawku-Poulimakoum stretch. The selective provision of security to Kussasi and leaving Mamprusi commuters to their fate in unfair
Facilitate the use of the right institution such as the house of chiefs and the law courts by both Kusasi and Mamprusi to resolve the chieftaincy impasse.
Stop abusing the right of abode of Naa Alhaji Seidu Abagre by the clear attempts to exile him from his own home and his people. He was born and bred in Bawku, his father born and bred in Bawku, his father and great grandfather all born and bred in Bawku tracing all the way back to the 17th century.
Mamprusi have always complied with every state directive and fully co-operated with the security agencies and will continue to be law abiding to restore peace and normalcy in Bawku and urges government to enforce the full rigors of the law without any bias MAYA wishes to add that, government should stop pampering those who threaten violence and mayhem but enforce the law.
Government knows those who threaten violence and actually carry it out. Rather than suppress the rights of the peaceful Mamprusi faction, enforce the law and bring to book the perpetrators of violence in Bawku
Thanks
Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
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