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Ghana: Residents of Bawku Live Under Fear of Reprisals And Hunger
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Public Agenda (Accra)
12 May 2008
Posted to the web 12 May 2008
Mahama Zakaria
Bawku
As the two feuding factions in the Bawku Traditional area- the Kusasis and Mamprusis continue to live under fear, there are worries of food shortages.
When this reporter visited the municipality most of it had been deserted. Only security personnel and some few animals could be seen in town. All shops were closed and markets deserted by the market women.
A senior nurse at the Bawku Hospital told this reporter that, a lot of people have been brought to the hospital without medical staff to care for them since almost all of them have fled. She said "even though the few of us left are trying our best we have no choice than to transfer most of the cases to Bolgatanga and other hospitals.
A former court registrar in Tamale now on retirement and resident in Bawku, lamented that it was unfortunate to see most of the able-bodied young men leave the town. He said, "right now, my son, people are hungry no food to eat so many people are leaving town."
He urged Ghanaians notto see the conflict as a Bawku issue, since it could flare up in any of the Zongo communities in the country, where Kusasi's and Mamprusis live.
An opinion leader close to the Mamprusi traditional leaders expressed his frustration at turn of events, since the two groups had been making efforts to settle the long chieftaincy dispute between them.
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In a chat with the Municipal Commander of Police Service Supt. Peter Mawong, he said they have so far arrested 72 young men who are still under investigation for possible prosecution. He was emphatic that the Municipality was now calm and there was no course for alarm.
W hen this reporter visited Pusiga almost all the houses there had been burnt and all residents had left the town. A twenty one (21) year old young man who only identified him self as Sulley said, he traveled to Bolgatanga only to hear that there was a fight. He rushed back only to see his father's house burnt to ashes, compelling his family to flee.
Sulley was however, hopeful that the factions will smoke the peace pipe some day. He called on the people to give peace a chance and be law abiding since that is the only way they can see development.
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