Nana Obiri Boahen (L), former presidents Jerry John Rawlings and Dr Kwame Nkrumah (M-R)
A former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has disclosed that certain political decisions taken after independence allegedly deepened the tensions between the Kusasi and Mamprusi communities in Bawku.
In a recent interview on Wontumi TV, he traced the origins of the conflict to actions under the governments of early leaders.
“The committee set up by Dr Nkrumah in 1958 took certain decisions which worsened the tensions. Pro-CPP activists also aligned themselves with the Kusasis”, he remarked.
Nana Obiri Boahen also cited a controversial decree passed under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) as part of the reasons.
“Under former President Rawlings, a decree PNDC Law 85, was passed to destool a deceased Bawku Naba who was Mamprusi. That decision further heightened tensions in the area,” he noted.
He further noted that the tensions escalated when some Mamprusi leaders were also banned from entering the Bawku township.
“Some Mamprusi leaders from entering Bawku, and this led many to flee from Bawku, politics has not helped the conflict, I appeal to the ethnic groups to cease fire”, he added.
Meanwhile, the protracted conflict in Bawku has claimed hundreds of lives, severely impacting socio-economic development of the Upper East Region.
JKB/EB
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