Bawku Traditional Council moves to halt land disputes

The Bawku Traditional Council at the weekend set up a committee to look into all land disputes in the area with a view to coming out with lasting solutions to them.

The Council has, therefore, resolved to suspend the seizure of farmlands from settler farmers.

All the 34 divisional chiefs in the area took the decision at an emergency meeting in Bawku at the weekend.

The measures, the Council said were aimed at consolidating the peace prevailing in the area. The decision was also to enable residents to carry out their farming activities during the current rainy season.

Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, Paramount Chief of the Bawku Traditional Area who presided over the meeting, noted with dismay that even though the farming season had set in, some residents who had fled the area in the wake of the ethnic conflict were afraid to return due to perceived threats to their lives.

Naba Azoka, who is also the President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, pointed out that Bawku area had experienced enough violence in recent times and expressed the hope that peace would restored in the area.

He appealed to the people to bury their differences and coexist peacefully to promote socio-economic development.

Mr Abdul-Rahman Gumah, Bawku East District Chief Executive (DCE), said land disputes have always had the tendency to spark off conflicts in the area.

He commended the Bawku Naba for convening the meeting and expressed the hope that decisions taken at the meeting would help bring an end to disputes in the area.

The Bawku West DCE, Mr Moses Abare Appiah, said issues bordering on land should not be allowed to disturb the peace in the area, and pledged his support to the Bawku Naba's efforts to bring about a lasting solution to the numerous conflicts.

Mr Bernard Dery, Upper East Regional Police Commander, pointed out that the police have no jurisdiction over land issues and cannot, therefore, confer ownership of any portion of land on any disputant.

"It is only the chiefs and the courts that have the authority to determine the rightful owners of land," he said.