President John Dramani Mahama, following his campaign promise to prioritize peace in Bawku in the Upper East Region, paid a visit to the ‘Zugrana,’ the overlord of Bawku, and other key stakeholders.
This visit, aimed at addressing the ongoing tensions in the area marked a significant step in his administration’s efforts to restore stability and progress.
President Mahama began by recalling the purpose of his visit to Bawku during the campaign period. He emphasized;
“If you remember, I came here to seek the blessings of my father for the election. And God granted our heart’s desire, and I got elected, so my first mission was to come and say thank you to him.”
H.E President John Dramani Mahama
This gratitude underscored his respect for the traditional authorities and his commitment to fulfilling the promises made during the campaign.
The president emphasized that his visit was a continuation of his efforts to ensure peace in Bawku, a region close to his heart. He emphasized;
“During the campaign, I stated that if God granted our desire and I was elected president, bringing peace to Bawku was going to be one of my number one priority.”
H.E President John Dramani Mahama
He acknowledged the hardships the people of Bawku had endured over the past three years and expressed his deep concern for their well-being.
The president’s tone was one of empathy and determination as he addressed the urgency of restoring peace to the region. He remarked;
“Today is exactly one week since I was sworn in at the Black Star Square. And it’s my first major assignment outside Accra. And so, I decided to come and assure you that we’re going to work very hard to make sure that we bring peace back to Bawku.”
H.E President John Dramani Mahama
This statement underlined the symbolic and strategic importance of his visit, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to prioritizing the security and stability of Bawku. He recounted;
“I remember when I was president, Bawku and surrounding areas were very peaceful. And work was going on, people were going about their duties.”
H.E President John Dramani Mahama
He expressed regret that the region had fallen back into a state of unrest and assured the people that his government would take decisive action to restore peace and stability. He stated;
“We are putting in place the various appointments so that we can have ministers and other officials who are responsible for the security to take charge. And so, within this week, we will do the appointments of the minister of defense, the minister of interior, the national security adviser, the national security coordinator, the BNI director, and all the others.”
H.E President John Dramani Mahama
These appointments were presented as part of a comprehensive strategy to address the security challenges in Bawku.
He further assured the people that these officials would be charged with making Bawku a priority. He added;
“I appeal to you to exercise patience, exercise restraint, and to let you know that I am apprised of the issue. I’m going to deal with it, and I can assure you, have trust in myself and this administration that by the grace of God, peace is going to come back.”
H.E President John Dramani Mahama
This plea highlighted the need for community cooperation and faith in the government’s efforts to restore peace.
Addressing Safety and Mobility
The president also emphasized the fundamental right to safety for all citizens. He reiterated;
“We cannot live in a country where our people don’t feel safe. Our people must feel safe to travel wherever they want at whatever time and not have people shooting at them.”
H.E President John Dramani Mahama
He assured the people that his administration would tackle the root causes of the insecurity, ensuring that everyone could live without fear of violence.
“When I entered, my father reminded me about his request. And you all know what request that was. My assurance is we need peace to be established.”
H.E President John Dramani Mahama
This statement reaffirmed his personal commitment to addressing the concerns of the traditional authorities in Bawku.
His promises to prioritize security, appoint key officials, and work closely with the community reflect a comprehensive approach to resolving the ongoing tensions.
As he concluded his speech, he left the people of Bawku with a message of hope and assurance, “I thank you very much. May God richly bless you.’’ He concluded.
This visit marks the beginning of a renewed effort to bring lasting peace and development to Bawku under President Mahama’s leadership.
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