NDC flagbearer, former President John Dramani Mahama
Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, has appealed to the feuding factions in the Bawku crisis to exercise extreme patience to prevent the renewed conflict from escalating.
He described the fresh development, which left at least eight dead after the recent exchange of gunfire, as instigated provocation that must not be allowed to fuel the volatile situation in the area.
John Mahama, who was addressing a mini durbar at Saboba to kickstart his campaign tour of the Northern Region, said there are sinister hands trying to stoke the fires of ethnic conflict in the Bawku area and they must be resisted.
Though the government has beefed up security in the area, Mr. Mahama believes resilience is key to sustaining the peace.
“I appeal to the people of the Bawku area to exercise patience and restraint. We know there are some sinister hands trying to stoke the fires of ethnic conflicts. They should not allow themselves to be used to provoke violence.”
The recent attacks after a period of relative peace in the area raise eyebrows, especially after Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, indicated that the National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah, is given six million Ghana cedis (GHS 6,000,000.00) monthly by the Finance Ministry to manage the Bawku conflict.
This, Mr. Ayariga says, translates into a whopping eighteen million Ghana cedis (GHS 18,000,000.00) each quarter.
Speaking on Woezor TV on Saturday, August 3, the outspoken MP said despite the huge sum of money allocated to the Ministry, there is no evidence of work done.
Subsequently, he dared Mr. Kan-Dapaah to respond to his allegations.