BE PATIENT – PEOPLE OF BAWKU

The Chairman of the National Peace Council (NPC) Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson has asked the people of Bawku to be patient and give the council some time to work out things to ensure lasting peace in Bawku.

We know the anger and pain you are currently going through however, we believe that it is through wider consultations with all stakeholders in the conflict that the much needed peace we’re all searching for will come, he said.

Cardinal Peter Appiah said when the blacksmith continue to hit a hot iron several times it means something is at stake. That is why we of the Peace Council will continue to come to Bawku and interact with its people until peace is achieved in Bawku.

The Cardinal made this remark when the NPC made a third time visit to some parts of Bawku and interacted with its people. Cardinal Turkson said the NPC believes peace can reign in Bawku however, peace lies within the people themselves who much as matter urgency make conscious effort towards it. The cardinal expressed his condolences to all bereaved and prayed God to console them enough.

At Pusiga where the NPC visited the Naa Gbewaa Shrine, Maulvi Wahab Adam praised the people for keeping the shrine well. He however urged the people to strive more on the shrine to attract more tourists.

The Omanhene of Dormaa Oseadeyo Agyeman Badu was happy that at long last he has seen the Gbewaa Training College that trained his father and some other prominent citizens of Ghana. He said with all this landmarks and the good of the place, the people should embrace peace, which would automatically bring jobs and development to the area. He expressed desire to adopt some of the children who lost their parents in the conflict. Prof. Irene Adotei embraced and consoled the women who lost their children and husbands. She appealed to them to find a place in their heart to forgive those who have hurt them badly and take what has happened to God in prayers.

The Municipal Chief Executive Hon. Abdulai Abanga expressed worry over the conflict situation and appealed to the people of Bawku to exercise restraint and give peace a chance. He said we can resolve our differences through the use of rule of law and not with the guns.

The Pusiga Chief Naba Ayumah Tambisbalen said with all the blood that has been shed in the land there’s the need to pacify it through a ritual called collection of blood. The chief said the ritual could be done at one of the spots where blood was shed to cover all other spots scattered all over the municipality. He however, said the ritual have to be done by both the Kusasi and Mamprusi to pacify the land. Earlier, the NPC in Bawku paid a courtesy call on the Bawku Naba Abugrago Asigri Azoka II; the visit also took the NPC to Buabula, a suburb where children and women were murdered, Natinga, Bawku central market and lorry station and they finally ended the tour at Solminaba where the first incident of the conflict started.

The council members met some of the victims of the gruesome murders in person, console them and prayed for them.

The council in collaboration with the Bawku municipal Assembly donated 10 bags of maize, 4 bags of beans, 3 goats and unspecified large sum of money to some of the victims. Other dignitaries who accompanied the NPC in their interactive tour included the Deputy Coordinating Director Hon. David Naa-Irene, Mr. Frimpong Mensah executive secretary of NPC, Mr. Frank Afari research assistant, Officer Commanding the Air Borne Force in Bawku Major Worlanyo Agbebo.


James Dorgbetor
Municipal Information Officer