BAWKU NABA BLAMES POLICE FOR UNENDING CONFLICT (BACK PAGE)

THE Bawku Naba, Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, has deplored the behaviour of some police personnel on peacekeeping operations in the area and blamed them for the unending conflict.
He alleged that some of the officers on the ground had compromised their neutrality, thereby frustrating attempts to bring lasting peace to the area.
Naba Azoka made the comments when members of the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and the Bawku Municipal Security Council called on him at his palace in the wake of the recent shooting incident in the town.
He questioned why some persons were allowed to hold what he termed illegal public events while the police stood by and watched and expressed his frustration at the constant release of suspected troublemakers soon after their arrest by the police.
The Bawku Naba said the only way that the conflict in Bawku could be solved was for the government to speed up action and come out clear with a ruling on the reports submitted by the two factions to the dispute.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, urged the Bawku Naba to continue to advise his subjects to exercise restraint as the government worked to find a lasting and amicable solution to the problem.
He said the REGSEC and the police administration would critically assess the concerns of the chief with regard to the conduct of the police officers and where necessary ensure that the right thing was done.
Briefing the media earlier, Mr Woyongo disclosed that 14 persons arrested in the shooting incident were being screened.
He said one AK 47 rifle and a G3 rifle were also retrieved from the combatants in addition to some rounds of ammunition.
Mr Woyongo disclosed that four vehicles were burnt at Pulmakom. In addition, the Ghana Immigration Service office at Pulmakom, a border town, was also burnt.
Mr Woyongo said from all indications, the opinion leaders had lost control over the youth and disclosed that henceforth, REGSEC would target youth leaders and educate them on the need to maintain peace.
He appealed to the media, especially those without correspondents in the conflict area, to exercise a little circumspection in their reportage of the situation in Bawku, since some of their reports inflamed passions in the area.