People in Bawku welcome lifting of curfew

Bawku, July 5, GNA - People in Bawku and its environs have expressed gratitude to the government for lifting the two-year old curfew imposed on the town.

They told the GNA in an interview that lifting the curfew showed the government's commitment to promote the quality of life in the area through the lifting of the curfew. The curfew was from 011 hours to 004 hours daily and at times varied especially whenever there was outbreak of violence. The imposition of the curfew brought to standstill economic activities in Bawku.

Majority of the people who had left their homes to stay in nearby towns and beyond as a result of the conflict and the imposition of the curfew have begun returning to their homes. Mr. Yahaya Musah, a businessman and a native of Sabon-Geri community in Bawku, said this had been a prayer of the people in the area because it would help promote economic activities. He said the move by the government would create free movement of goods and services and strengthen relationships among the feuding factions.

Mrs. Mary Asampana, a senior nurse at the Presbyterian Hospital, expressed her satisfaction at the lifting of the curfew and said she and her colleagues would now move freely to work at any time. Mrs. Asampana said the curfew was a major threat to health delivery in the area as health workers who went for night duties could not go to work because they feared being caught during curfew hours. Mr. George Atta, a staff of the Agriculture Development Bank in Bawku, said lifting the curfew was good and would promote religious activities in the Municipality.

Mr. David Adoliba, assemblyman for the Gengande electoral area, said lifting of the curfew would contribute to hasten the peace process in the area.

The former Co-chairman of the Inter-Ethnic Peace Committee (BIEPC) and an opinion leader from the Mamprusi community, Mr. Alhaji Kolbilla, said lifting the curfew was welcome news to the people of Bawku and said it would promote the development of the area. Mr. Thomas Abillah a Co-chairman of BIEPC from the Kussasi community, commended the security services for their efforts in maintaining peace in the area. He called on the people not to take advantage of the situation and cause problems because the law would deal with anyone who fell foul of the law. 05 July 11