The Minister of the Interior, Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, has hinted that there has been a major breakthrough in the search for a lasting solution to the Dagbon crisis. He gave the assurance that the possible solutions will be announced in two weeks.
The minister, however, stated that “ there is still a lot of work to be done within the next two weeks to arrive at a solution which could lead to the possible lifting of the current curfew and the state of emergency in the Dagbon area.”
Owusu-Agyeman gave the hint at a meeting with the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) in Tamale on Wednesday.
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police, P. K. Acheampong, and the National Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Brigadier Joseph Odei, accompanied the minister on a three-day visit to the region.
The Minister observed that whatever happens in Dagbon affects the rest of the country and even if other parts of the country are stable but there is lack of peace in the Northern Region, “then we still have a lot of work to be do”.
The minister therefore appealed to the people to consider themselves as coming from the same family and also heed the advice of the government and all well-meaning groups and individuals to assist in finding a permanent solution to the differences that exist between them.
Owusu-Agyeman expressed the preparedness of the government to do whatever it can to bring peace to Dagbon. He, however, stressed that this objective cannot be realised without the commitment of the people themselves since charity begins at home”.
He cautioned all those behind the perpetration of violence in the area to desist from such unproductive practice. The minister made it clear that the government will not shirk its responsibility of safeguarding the life and property of every citizen.
Owusu-Agyeman commended members of the REGSEC and the various security agencies for their tremendous efforts in ensuing peace in the area. He said that the problem of inadequate logistics impeding the security forces in the smooth discharge of their duties is receiving the attention of the government.
