Dominic Nitiwul, a former defense minister, has offered his thoughts on the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) administration’s attempts to resolve the protracted Bawku conflict.
In an interview with Joy News, Nitiwul admitted that although great efforts were made to preserve stability, the failure to bring about enduring peace is nevertheless a serious regret for the departing government.
To say that we did not do anything is wrong. We did whatever we needed to do to keep peace in Bawku, but we wanted to achieve total peace, and that eluded us. So that would be the regret that I will say we have,” he stated.
He spoke into detail about the steps the government has taken, such as sending security forces, encouraging communication among interested parties, and working with community and traditional leaders. Even while these initiatives produced short-term stability, the conflict was not resolved in the long run.
More
Nitiwul emphasized the significance of peace in Bawku and its high priority on the agenda of the NPP government. He emphasized that in his last State of the Nation Address, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo acknowledged the problem.
“And for the [former] president to find space and mention that in his last State of the Nation Address, that he regrets that we couldn’t find total peace in Bawku, that alone tells how he views the issue of Bawku and what he wants to leave, or the message he wants to leave for the incoming president to look at Bawku critically. The government should engender trust in the people. That’s the first thing the government needs to do.”
The Kusasi and Mamprusi ethnic groups are the main parties to the Bawku conflict, which has its origins in chieftaincy and historical conflicts. It has resulted in many deaths throughout the years, including 41 in the most recent conflicts.
Nitiwul’s comments highlight how urgent it is to make consistent efforts to build trust and bring about enduring peace in the area.
