Mahama Makes Assurance To People Of Bawku In 1st Assignment Outside Accra: "Peace Is Going To Come"

• President John Mahama has assured of his resolve to restore peace in the Bawku township
• Mahama assured that key appointments to security agencies would be made within the week
• The president appealed to the community to exercise patience and restraint as he begins to govern

President John Mahama has reiterated his resolve to restore peace in the troubled Bawku township.

During a visit to the troubled Upper East community on January 14, 2025, Mahama stressed that this was his first major assignment outside Accra.

The president assured the people of Bawku that his administration would take concrete steps to address the security situation.

“I stated that if God granted our desire and I was elected president, bringing peace to Bawku was going to be one of my number one priorities."

“We want to assure you that we are putting in place the various appointments so that we can have ministers and other officials responsible for security to take charge."

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Mahama also noted that appointments for key positions such as the Minister of Defence, Minister of Interior, National Security Advisor, National Security Coordinator, and BNI Director would be made within the week.

The president also appealed to the community to exercise patience and restraint as he begins to govern

“I am going to deal with it, and I can assure you to have trust in myself and this administration, and by the grace of God, peace is going to come back—permanent peace will come back to Bawku."

When he was campaigning to be president, Mahama urged the army to work with the police to provide safety and security in the Bawku.

At the time, he said the news of some fatalities saddened him.

Bawku has been hit with a significant escalation in violence in the last year.

The long-standing Bawku conflict has deep roots in the chieftaincy dispute between the Kusasis and Mamprusi.

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In one of the more recent attacks, at least three persons were killed. The recent clashes have been linked to the return of Seidu Bagre, who was controversially enskinned as Bawku Naba in 2023.

The Interior Ministry has instituted a 12-hour curfew to curb the violence, but that has not been as successful. There have been attacks on buses on trucks outside the town that have been linked to the conflict.

Minister raises concerns about jihadists in Bawku

YEN.com.gh reported in another story that the former Upper East Regional minister raised concerns about the suspected activities of jihadist movements in Bawku.

According to Stephen Yakubu, the jihadist activities in the area are a reason for the recurring conflict, which has intensified in the last few months.

The West Africa Centre for Counter-Extremism report indicated that Ghana risks terrorist attacks due to existing triggers that have remained unresolved for many years.

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Experts warn that Islamist extremists fighting in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Togo could take advantage of this volatile situation in Ghana.

Source: YEN.com.gh