Civil society urged to help northern crisis

The Socialist Forum of Ghana (SFG) on Thursday called for a "democratic solution" to the crisis in Dagbon and Tamale, saying civil society should be involved in the peace process to ensure fairness and transparency.

A statement signed by Grandfadaa Ayitomeka for the SFG in Accra, said the central government had the requisite democratic mandate to act in the crisis but was hampered by serious credibility problems in Dagbon.

"We call on like-minded individuals and civil society groups active in promoting peace, human rights, and democracy or who have a special interest in Dagbon or the Northern Region to convene a round table conference to discuss and launch such private enquiries."

The statement said the violence in Tamale a few days ago was closely linked to the Dagbon crisis and could plunge the country into a crisis similar to that of neighbouring Cote d'Ivoire. Four people died and several houses were burned when the youths of the NPP an NDC clashed.

The statement called for a prompt judicial enquiry into the violence in Tamale and punishment on those found guilty. The Forum said the violence in the town, which resulted in loss of life and property, represented "a migration or spread of conflict from Yendi to a more heavily populated and cosmopolitan area where the potential for further chaos is necessarily greater".

"The danger of exportation to other cities in Ghana must be now taken seriously," the statement added. The SFG said what happened in Tamale was comparable in scale to the worst excesses committed during the periods under investigation by the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) due to the level of "violence attributed to the security services".

It said majority of Tamale citizens now regarded the military and police with deep-seated fear and hostility. "The credibility of government and state and their ability to serve as agents for reconciliation has been drastically weakened. This is a dangerous level of social polarisation", the statement said.