Bawku conflict: 15 people killed in fresh fighting

At least 15 people have been killed in the renewed Bawku conflict which came after a short period of stability in the area. Fighting broke out in the area on Sunday when a rival chief installed in February 2023 at Nalerigu, Alhaji Seidu Abagre returned to the area. His return followed a Kumasi High Court’s decision to quash his arrest warrant.

As a result of the latest tension, part of the Bolgatanga-Tamale highway was blocked on Sunday at Gbimsi, in the North East Region. According to reports, armed men burned tyres and searched passing vehicles for Kusasis.

Speaking about the Bawku conflict, lawyer for the Bawku Naaba, Agbambilla Ziyerley Maxwell told JoyNews on October 28 that the quashing of the arrest warrant is the spark that led to the latest chaos.

“We were told that the Attorney-General didn’t even put in a response so the Court had no choice but to revoke his (Alhaji Seidu Abagre’s) arrest warrant. The Attorney-General simply could have issued another arrest warrant but they didn’t do that,” he remarked.

Touching on the number of deaths, Maxwell Agbambilla said, “we have currently lost a minimum of 15 people in Bawku and some are being slaughtered in Walewale”.

Meanwhile, the NPP’s parliamentary candidate, John Krugu, said the Ghana Card has become a tool for flashing out enemies at road blocks. He added that the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital is overwhelmed and the injured cannot be carried to Bolgatanga or Tamale due to road blocks.

“Last night, we got the message that there was no space to keep the injured at the Presbyterian Hospital, roads were blocked and you cannot carry the injured to Bolgatanga for treatment. The roads between Bolga and Tamale were blocked and people were being asked for their Ghana Cards to identify their tribal affiliation and to kill them,” John Krugu lamented.

John Krugu added that “some people who do not belong to the two tribes were mistakenly killed and this is a sad situation that we are having.”

The Bawku conflict which has been ongoing for some years now has become a big dent on Ghana’s peaceful image over the years. The fighting between rival tribes; Kusasis and Mamprusis has taken 100s of lives and turned the once bustling town of Bawku into a ghost town.