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Fighting starts afresh in Bawku
despite presence of Military personnel
Bawku (U/E), Jan. 2, Ghanadot/GNA – Fresh violence erupted
in Bawku at about 12 noon on Wednesday in spite of the
presence of the Military, who are patrolling the Township in
armoured vehicles.
Some residents told Ghana News Agency (GNA) that apart from
the five deaths recorded at the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital,
seven more died on Tuesday but their bodies were not taken
to the Hospital.
They said two people were killed at the New Station; three
at Natinga, near the Hospital and two others died near the
Water and Sewerage Office.
Mr Alhassan Samari, Upper East Regional Minister, told
newsmen on Tuesday after he had toured the affected areas in
the Municipality to assess the situation, that 15 people
have so far been arrested.
He said they have been charged for possessing unlicensed
weapons, causing damage to a police vehicle and blocking of
roads and said they were in Police custody pending further
investigation.
Mr Samari said 165 police personnel were deployed and 150
more would be added on Wednesday. Also a number of Military
personnel from the Tamale Air Borne Force would be added to
the 70 soldiers already on the ground.
He indicated that checkpoints would be mounted at vantage
points in the Region, particularly in the Bawku area.
There is a long standing chieftaincy dispute between the
Kusasi and Mamprusi ethnic groups in Bawku, a thriving
commercial centre, creating a volatile condition.
Violence erupted on Monday during the celebration of the
Samanpiid Festival of the chiefs and people of Kusasi
Traditional Area, when news came in that some people had
been killed.
Speaking to the Media at Bawku, Chief Superintendent Peter
Kin Gyinae, Divisional Police Commander of Bawku, explained
that the three people, who were allegedly shot on Monday
could not be associated with communal violence between the
two factions.
He said criminals suspected to be Fulanis took advantage of
the Samanpid festival being celebrated to create confusion,
with the intention of stealing cattle and in the process
killed the three people thereby sparking off violence.
He said that, when the case was reported, he quickly
dispatched police personnel to Pusum near Bawku where the
incident took place.
Two of the deceased were lying on the ground whilst the
other was dumped in donkey cart.
The Divisional Crime Officer Isaac Akligbe led newsmen to
the Presbyterian Bawku Hospital mortuary where the three
bodies had been deposited pending autopsy.
According to Reverend Jacob Wandumsi, Chaplin of the
Hospital, the deceased were pronounced dead on arrival at
the Hospital.
GNA
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