STOP VIOLENCE IN BAWKU, URGE MP, REGIONAL MINISTER (D/G, Wednesday, March 4, 2009PAGE 15)

THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, Mr Adamu Daramani, has made a passionate appeal to his constituents to stop the violence in the Bawku municipality.
Relatedly, the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, has also condemned the clashes in the Bawku municipality, saying “the task of developing the region is always hampered by the incessant fighting in the Bawku area and other hot spots in the region.”
The MP described as most unfortunate the recent eruption of conflict in the area and said the time had come for all to join forces for the re-building of the town which, for a greater part of last year, witnessed several deaths and loss of property.
In a telephone interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Daramani emphasised that conflict in the area could not solve any problem and cautioned all those behind the dastardly acts in Bawku to put a stop to them.
He condemned the setting ablaze of a house belonging to his mother, Madam Agnes Azumah Osumanu, at Gigange, a suburb of Bawku, and that of the vice-chairman of the Bawku Central branch of the NPP at Mognori.
He said at the time his mother’s house was attacked, the 70-year-old pensioner was away in Accra for medical check-up.
Mr Daramani solicited the support of opinion leaders and the leaders of political parties to address the latest conflict that had erupted in the municipality.
He also pledged his commitment to any attempt by the government to restore peace in the Bawku area.
“From what I have heard so far, this is not a Mamprusi-Kusasi affair. This is an NPP-NDC violence and we must all act now to avert any further loss of human lives and property,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the presence of the police and the military in Bawku would reduce the uneasy calm prevailing in Bawku and lead to the restoration of peace in the area.
Addressing his maiden meeting with staff of the Upper East Regional Co-ordinating Council in Bolgatanga, the Regional Minister condemned the latest clashes in the Bawku municipality.
He said the task of developing the region was constantly hampered by the incessant fighting in the Bawku area.
“Comments made by people in other parts of the country are not complementary at all. We should, therefore, strive to ensure lasting peace in the region,” he said.
In a related development, the Upper East Regional Police Command has commenced the screening of the 27 people arrested in connection with last Monday’s unrest in Bawku.
Those found culpable will later be arraigned.
A police source hinted that over 100 policemen selected from other parts of the country were due to arrive in the region to beef up peacekeeping operations in the Bawku area.
Five people were confirmed dead in renewed fighting in the Bawku municipality last Monday.
A police constable, Peter Ayivie, was also shot in the leg at the hostel where security men on peacekeeping operations were lodging.
The cause of the violence is not yet known.