The Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery, has imposed a curfew on the Bawku Municipality and its environs in the Upper East Region to ensure safety and security in the area.
The curfew imposition, according to Ambrose Dery, comes after an advice from the Upper East Regional Security Council following a recent threat of insecurity in the area after some hints were given yesterday, November, 23, 2021.
“The Ministry for Interior has on the advise of the Upper East Regional Security Council and by Executive Instrument imposed a Curfew on Bawku Municipality and its environs in the Upper East Region from 4:00 p.m to 6:00 a.m effective, Wednesday, November 24, 2021”.
Interior Ministry
In a statement, the minister called on the chiefs, elders, opinion leaders, youth and people of Bawku and its environs to exercise restraint as government works to settle the differences to ensure peace. Ambrose Dery urged the residents to use non-violent means to channel their energies into ensuring peace.
“Meanwhile, there is a total ban on all persons in the afore-mentioned communities and its environs from carrying arms, ammunition or any offensive weapon and any persons found with any arms or ammunition will be arrested and prosecuted”.
Interior Ministry
Earlier, the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, called for calm among residents in and around Bawku following the sporadic gun shots in the town last night. The regional minister who is also chair of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) said the council is deliberating on the way forward to resolving the issue.
Bawku intended final ritual
According to a situational report by the Regional Police Commander, Dr. Sayibu Pabi Gariba, he indicated that intelligence picked by the Security agencies about the intended event of the Mamprusis in Bawku stemmed from an upcoming funeral ritual.
He indicated that the intended funeral ritual would have posed a security challenge which is likely to breach the peace of Bawku and breach the Public Order Act since the Police was not informed about the holding of the public event.
Dr. Gariba noted that in a meeting with the said group, he informed them that the Police had secured a restraining order from the Court for service on them to restrain them from carrying out any such intended event. According to him, there were comments from the other participants from the security agencies. He posited that the Mamprusi group at the meeting spoke and mainly denied any intended funeral and installation of new chief at Bawku.
They, however, admitted that they intended to perform some rituals for their late chief who died some 41 years ago and that their intended rituals had the blessing of Nayiri and would not present any security challenge to Bawku.
The Restraining order, he noted was read and served by the Regional Crime Officer, Dr. Sam Bugri on behalf of the Police. The meeting ended with the Regional Commander appealing to the group to respect the order and cooperate with the Security agencies to maintain Security in Bawku and its environs. Dr. Gariba noted that the situation is being monitored closely and any further development shall be communicated.
