The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo wants the curfew on Bawku lifted by the Interior Ministry following the relatively long duration of peace that has prevailed in the volatile region.
Bawku has been peaceful since the second quarter of 2010. That extent of peace has been very rare in that part of Ghana.
Ethnic and chieftaincy strife between the Kusasis and Mamprusis have intermittently sparked mayhem in the area. Scores of people have died each time there have been clashes between the two sides. Mr Woyongo told Citi News that the prevailing peace merits a total relaxation of all restrictions imposed on the area. “Since April last year we haven’t had any serious breach of the peace in Bawku and that is quite heartwarming and we are excited about this. We want to believe that it is the beginning of the end of that conflict”.
“As a result of that long spell of peace in the area, we are discussing the issue of the curfew with the national security. We think that because of this prevailing peace we should lift the curfew”. “We have to pay tribute to the Chiefs and people of the area, I think that they have had a change of heart and they are now committed to the peace in the area”.