Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Government called to state her position on Bawku conflict


The paramount chief and president of the Bawku traditional area Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II have made a passionate appeal to the government to publicly state her position on the conflict in Bawku.
The chief made this appeal today at his palace when he addressed members of the traditional council and large crowd to condemn the eruption of violence again in Bawku some few days ago.
“Our Mamprusi cousins used to rely on the myth of chieftaincy dispute in Bawku however all relevant facts pertaining to the issue have put the matter to rest. After the government-General’s Committee of enquiry report on the dispute in 1957 and its white paper accepting the recommendations contained therein in the same year, there was the judgment of the Appeal court in 1958 upholding the government- general’s decision. There was also the judgment of the supreme court in 2003 which put the matter to rest permanently’’. Naba Azoka II explained
The chief added that the president HE J A Kufuor also invited the two factions engaged in the conflict (Kusasi and Mamprusi) as well as Nayiri of Mamprugu at separate dates in March to the castle for frank discussions which he believes gave the President a deeper insight into the problem in Bawku.
He said I and my traditional council have confidence in the president in his wise counsel when he met all factions and interacted with them but what remains to be done is a public statement by government on the issue.


The chief said it appears leaders of some political parties are also compounding the problem to the extend that when they pay a courtesy call on Bawku naba Azoka II they do same for a Mamprusi Regent which has far reaching consequences. He advised all those behind the scene perpetuating the violence in Bawku to desist from it.
It is recalled that after series of efforts including the personal intervention of the President J A Kufuor to settle the conflict in Bawku since violence broke out 31st December 2007, a degree of normalcy returned to Bawku but out of the blue one of the opinion leaders of the Kusasi Alhji Karim Musah (alias Karim Ogah) was gruesomely murdered leading fresh violence which have killed many people and several properties destroyed. Meanwhile the military and police have been able to contain the situation and there is relative stability in Bawku.

James Dorgbetor
Municipal Information Officer

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