Majority Leader and Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga, has appealed to fellow lawmakers and political commentators to avoid politicising the ongoing Bawku conflict, warning that the situation remains volatile. He emphasized that the roots of the conflict date back to 1957 and should not be used for “cheap political points.”
Mr. Ayariga’s comments came in response to Bimbilla MP and former Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, who criticised the current administration for its alleged failure to release funds and resources to support the military in tackling the unrest in Bawku. Nitiwul made these claims during a debate on the Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament.
The former minister also challenged Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson’s assertion that the government had supplied 3,500 motorcycles to the security agencies. Addressing the issue, Mr. Ayariga clarified that he had deliberately avoided weighing in on the Bawku situation, but felt compelled to caution Parliament: “I beg you, don’t politicise Bawku…let’s be sensitive to the volatile security situation in Bawku.”
Mr. Ayariga assured the house that the government was working diligently to restore peace to the conflict-ridden area. He reiterated the need for unity and a non-partisan approach to resolving the ethnic tensions that continue to destabilize the region.
The Bawku conflict has intensified in recent weeks following the killing of a Kusasi Chief in Asawase, Kumasi, and the murder of two students from Nalerigu Senior High School by unknown gunmen. These incidents, believed to be linked to the ethnic conflict, have triggered nationwide concern and renewed calls for swift and decisive government action.
