Bawku youth call for peace

Accra, Jan. 8, GNA - Concerned Youth of Bawku, a pressure group, on Tuesday called on government to play an independent and neutral role in the Bawku conflict to ensure that lasting peace returned to the area. A statement signed by Kanduri Moses, spokesperson of the group said, what the youth needed at this time was a stable and peaceful environment for development and appealed to the youth of Bawku to lay down their arms and strive for socio-economic development.

It called on all stakeholders not to consider the conflict as political, tribal or religious but rather evolve measures that would ensure permanent peace in the Bawku community. It called on civil society; non-governmental organizations, clubs and societies and religious bodies to play a part in sensitizing the people of Bawku on the need to live in peace. The statement stressed the need for expanding and strengthening the existing military base to be able to protect the citizenry at all times when called to duty.

Communal violence broke out between the Mamprusis and Kusasis on December 31 last year, necessitating the imposition of a dusk to dawn curfew on the community by government. A ban was also placed on the carrying of arms in the communities and scores of policemen dispatched to the area to maintain peace and order.