Ethnic groups in Bawku conflict sign peace accord(D/G Monday March 3,2008) p 32

The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Alhassan Samari, (4th from left), and other leaders of the various ethnic groups in the Bawku Municipality appending their signature to a communiqué issued at Bolgatanga after a peace dialogue.
The dialogue was at the instance of Mr. Samari who is also the Chairman of the Upper East Regional Security Committee. It was aimed at halting violence in the Bawku Municipality following the recent ethnic conflict that erupted there.
The leaders of the various groups that participated in the talks were Messrs John Ndebugre, Mohammed Tahiru Nambe, Stephen Siedu, Abubakar J. Ustarz, Tahiru Kundima, Mbalba Alhassan, spokesperson for the Kusasis, Mamprusis, Bisssas’, Hausas, Moshies and Dagomba communities respectively.
The communiqué among other things called for a stop in the levying of monies, which is believed to be collected for the purpose of buying arms and ammunitions that was now going on in the communities
It also urged the security agencies to arrest all wrong doers and deal with them on individual basis irrespective of their ethnic background or social status.
The joint statement also advocated a stop in the seizure of motorbikes and bicycles from people and food stuffs from women traders.
“Mamprusis and Kusasis should see the other tribes as part of them and not suspect them of taking sides. The other tribes should on the other hand, not act in a way to open them to be suspected of taking sides in the conflict”, the communiqué said.