Renowned security expert, Prof Kwesi Aning, has described the ongoing conflict in Bawku as a matter of national concern, stating that the violence has transcended the boundaries of the troubled region and now threatens the security and stability of the entire country. Speaking on JoyNews‘ AM Show on Monday, Prof Aning emphasised that the nature and scale of the unrest in Bawku can no longer be regarded as a localised issue.
“We are looking at this conflict as a Bawku conflict, this is not a Bawku Conflict, this is a Ghana conflict with regional implications or connections and networks.” He added, “Those who are perpetrating and profiting from the violence are not necessarily located in the Bawku township.” He called for an immediate and comprehensive national response to de-escalate tensions and restore lasting peace. According to him, the State must rise to the occasion with decisive interventions that go beyond temporary military deployments.
“We need to better understand the network and to use the intelligence available to take the necessary actions.” “This is Ghana’s problem and increasingly West African problem,” he added. The Bawku conflict, rooted in longstanding ethnic and chieftaincy disputes, has seen periodic flare-ups resulting in casualties, displacement, and heightened security concerns. In the recent resurgence of the conflict, three persons have been killed, including two young police officers.
Source: Albert Kuzor
