Bawku commended for peaceful elections(D/G Thursday, January 22,2009. Pg 53)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bawku
The Upper East Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCOP Alhaji Hamidu Mahama has commended the Chiefs and People of Bawku as well as political parties and their supporters in the Bawku Municipality for ensuring peace in Election 2008.
“The whole Ghana and the international community thought Bawku will erupt based on the past experiences and also due to the recent tribal conflict in the area, but your collaborated efforts and your strong desire for peace ensured that nothing of that sought,” he said.
DCOP Mahama, who is also the Chairman of the Upper East Regional Election Security Taskforce was therefore full of praise for to the Bawku Naba and his elders as well as the people of Bawku for sustaining the relative peace in the area that ensure a peaceful atmosphere during the polls in December last year.
DCOP Mahama gave the commendation when he paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of Bawku, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II at his palace to express his appreciation to the traditional authority for the role it played in maintaining the peace.
Tribal Conflict erupted in Bawku in January last year leading to the lost of human life and property. This led to the deployment of police and military personnel to the area to maintain the peace.
The once vibrant trading municipality and its environs have for the greater part of last year been under curfew, which is reviewed occasionally by the Ministry of Interior subject to the advice of the Upper East Regional Security Council.
Under the terms of the curfew, persons in the affected areas namely the Bawku Municipal Area, Zabugu, Binduri, Pusiga and Zoosi townships and their environs are debarred from carrying arms, ammunition or any offensive weapons.
Just last Monday, the President's representative responsible for the Ministry of the Interior renewed the curfew imposed on the Bawku Municipality and its immediate environs for another week with effect from Monday, January 19. The curfew hours remain unchanged at midnight to 4am
Addressing the Bawku Naba and his counsel of elders, DCOP Mahama, said “we are very proud of what the people of Bawku did for us during the elections. They listen to us and ensured that there was no confrontation and every thing went smoothly. On behalf of the IGP I want to say thank you to the people of Bawku and especially to Naba for the wonderful help he gave to the security agencies before, during and after the elections.
While thanking the Bawku Naba, the Regional Police Commander urged the chief to ensure that the goodwill that he (Naba) and his people displayed during the elections would be sustained so that Bawku will take back its past glory.
“The peace that we gotten so far should be maintained in order to sustained the peace in the area”, he said.
The Bawku Naba for his part expressed his gratitude to the Almighty God and all other stakeholders in the polls, especially the security agencies in the traditional area for ensuring a peaceful general election.
He particular lauded the police force in the region headed by DCOP Hamidu Mahama for the tremendous role they played in ensuring that the fragile peace was not escalated and expressed the hope that total peace will be restored in the area.
DCOP Hamidu Mahama later joined members of the Muslim community at their Friday congregational prayers and later interacted with them.
Addressing the worshippers later, the Regional Police Commander urged them not to do anything that will jeopardize the peace of the area.
“Bawku was identified as a flashpoint prior to the elections and many people including the international community thought something would happen but thankfully the place was calm. It therefore behoves us to continually pray to Allah for the sustenance of the peace of the area,” he said.
DCOP Mahama was accompanied by the Divisional Commander for Bawku, Chief Superintendent Peter Mawong, the Bawku District Police Commander, DSP Cashman Blewushie and the Regional Police Staff Officer, ASP Frank Ayeh