Gunmen in Binduri Kill 5-Year-Old in Disturbing Attack, Radio Presenter Among Casualties
- Five people were the victims of a tragic gun attack in the Binduri District of the Upper East Region
- This comes after four people were killed in violence linked to ethnic tension in the Bawku township
- Tensions in Bawku revolve around a chieftaincy dispute between the Kusasis and the Mamprusi ethnic groups
Five people, including a radio presenter, were shot in the Binduri District of the Upper East Region.
The incident occurred when unidentified gunmen attacked their residence on October 26.
Source: Getty Images
Starr FM reported that three of the victims, including a five-year-old child, died on the spot.
Among the injured is George Bukari, the manager of Binduri-based Maxx Empire Radio and TV.
Residents said the attack is believed to be linked to the long-running Bawku conflict.
The conflict in Bawku centres around a chieftaincy feud between the Kusasis and Mamprusi ethnic groups.
The conflict has claimed multiple lives and displaced several families since it erupted in November 2021.
On October 24, four people were killed in violence linked to ethnic tensions in the Bawku township.
The victims were attacked at different places in the Bawku township and its environs over the course of 24 hours.
Military personnel present in the area have intensified patrols amid the tensions in Bawku involving Kusasis and Mamprusis.
However, the Chief of Sakpari, Naba Salafu Akolbilla, condemned the government’s handling of the worsening insecurity in the area.
The chief also accused some military personnel deployed to Binduri of escalating the tensions.
About the Bawku tensions
The conflict in Bawku dates back to the 1930s, with the Kusasis and Mamprusi being the main feuding actors.
The tensions revolve around the occupancy of the Bawku skin, which represents chiefly authority in the Bawku traditional area.
As a result of a colonial policy arrangement, the Bawku Chief holds paramountcy over Kusasi, Mamprusi, and other local chiefs.
The Kusasis are known to be the indigenes of the Bawku traditional area, while the Mamprusis have claimed a historical presence in Bawku since the 17th century and have asserted that they started the chieftaincy in the region.
Source: Getty Images
In 1957, tensions began to escalate between the Mamprusis and Kusasis over the Bawku chieftaincy, which led to the installation of two separate chiefs for the same position.
The government recognises Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, who was enskinned on 24th April 1984, as the current chief of the township.
These tensions have culminated in a protracted conflict that has led to several deaths over the years.
President John Mahama took a trip to Bawku seven days after his inauguration and reiterated his resolve to restore peace in the troubled township. He described peace in Bawku as one of his priorities.
Mahama appeals for peace in Bawku
YEN.com.gh reported that President John Mahama has made appeals for lasting peace in Bawku, amid the ethnic tensions.
Speaking at Ghana's 68th Independence Day celebrations, Mahama emphasised the need for unity and dialogue to resolve the tension.
He lamented the devastating impact of the conflict on the younger generation, who needed a peaceful environment to pursue their dreams in life.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
