The overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Council, Nayiri Mahami Abdulai Sherigah, has called for the disarmament by warring factions in the Savannah North Region.
According to him, the event that led to the death of one person and the destruction of several properties in the affected communities is unfortunate, uncalled-for and a dent on the long-standing cordial relationship between Mamprusis and Gonjas that had existed over centuries.
To this end, he expressed great concern the conflict between Gonjas and the Mamprusis at Lukula and its environs over the past few days.
“I wish to use this medium to call for disarmament by the warring factions whilst I work with my brother Yagbun-wura Amonebafe Borenyi I to find a lasting solution to the dispute.”
Nayiri Mahami Abdulai Sherigah
Furthermore, Nayiri Mahami Abdulai Sherigah urged law enforcement agencies to work to bring the perpetrators of this untoward event to book devoid of any consideration. While at this, he indicated that the Government is also urged to put in more effort in demarcating the land boundaries in the affected communities.
“In conclusion, I wish to call on all my sons and daughters in the Savannah and North East Regions to stay calm and embrace peace in the midst of any provocation from recalcitrant individuals.”
Nayiri Mahami Abdulai Sherigah
Conflict broke out in the town which triggered residents to flee to safety on Thursday, June 1, 2023, following the shooting to death of a 70-year-old chief that left one person dead and several houses burnt.
Bawumia calls for peace in Bawku conflict
Meanwhile, Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged all factions in the Bawku conflict to collaborate with Government and other key stakeholders to resolve any issues that have derailed the peace and development of the area.
Addressing the Chiefs, Queen mothers and peoples of the Upper East Region in Bolgatanga, Dr Bawumia expressed anguish at the attacks, injuries and compromised security in the Bawku area, which has impacted negatively not just on the area, but the nation as a whole.
“As a son of the soil, my heart breaks about what is happening in Bawku. The conflict in Bawku is very unfortunate because we are really one people, and we should be together, and not fighting. And so I hope that the initiatives that Government has initiated through the House of Chiefs and the Otumfuo that is ongoing will help us to bring lasting peace to the Bawku area and therefore help us develop our part of the country, because conflict leads to poverty and that has been shown very clearly.”
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia
He revealed that on the part of Government, it understands that to prevent conflict and to enhance peace, it has to make sure that development in Ghana is inclusive. He explained that everybody must feel a part of the development that we see in the country.
“When people are excluded, they are more susceptible to extremist ideas.”
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia
Urging Chiefs to support Government to bring about lasting peace, Dr Bawumia observed that many conflicts in the country have their roots in Chieftaincy disputes. He stated that Government’s major bane as far as security is concerned has been Chieftaincy-related and the scarce resources which could have otherwise been channeled to other basic developmental projects are being sacked into waste.
“Peace they say is a sine-qua-non to development. There is therefore the need for more collaborative efforts to step up our game towards prevention and control of conflicts. We in this part of the country are already vulnerable and what is happening across the (Burkina Faso) border puts us in a more precarious situation. For us on the part of Government, we understand that to prevent conflict and to enhance peace, we have to make sure that development in Ghana is inclusive. Everybody must feel a part of the development that we see in the country. When people are excluded, they are more susceptible to extremist ideas.”
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia
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