Govt Is Playing Politics With Bawku Conflict – Dr Bempong
Dr. Eric Bempong, a lecturer at KAAF University, has drawn attention to the politicization of the Bawku conflict, emphasizing the detrimental impact it has had on efforts to find a lasting solution. He pointed out that political interests have hindered progress in resolving the crisis, leading to continued violence and instability in the region.
Highlighting former President Agyekum Kufuor’s intervention in the Yendi conflict by seeking the counsel of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Dr. Bempong praised the Monarch’s expertise in conflict resolution.
“This Bawku issue can be resolved and they know how but they are using politics. At every change of government, it worsens. At the end of certain regimes, it escalates. How did the Yendi issues stop? President Kufuor in his wisdom brought the issue to Oumfuo.”
“Outumfuo is good in these things, it tells you the indepth knowledge he has on arbitration. Innocent people are being killed. Yendi issues were worse than this.” he said during a panel discussion on Opemsuo Radio’s Nkwantannanso with Kofi Boakye.
The scholar criticized President Akufo-Addo’s administration for its perceived inaction in addressing the Bawku conflict over the past seven years. He suggested that if the conflict had arisen in a different region of Ghana, the president would have been swift to resolve it, implying a lack of prioritization for the people of Bawku.
“So in this 7 years, what has Akufo-Addo done? It tells you Ghanaians are not important to him. Imagine if the issue had taken place in other parts of the country.”
In the State of the Nation Address, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged the dire situation in Bawku, describing it as a “wasteland of destruction and distrust”. He expressed concern over the region’s susceptibility to external influences, posing a threat to national security.
“Speaker, what should concern all of us and not just the people of Bawku is that, in its current state, Bawku is an alluring magnet to mischief makers and extremists operating a few kilometres across from the border.”
To address the protracted dispute, the government has implemented various measures, including the establishment of a special Bawku Taskforce, intensified engagement with factions, suspension of radio stations propagating hate speech, and the establishment of specialized courts to expedite legal proceedings related to the conflict.
Story by Adwoa S. Danso
