Northern Development Forum calls for peace at Bawku

A non-partisan organisation, the Northern Development Forum (NDF) has called on its northern compatriots to reflect deeply on the consequences of resorting to violence to resolve matters arising from minor ethnic, traditional and cultural differences.

It said it was deeply concerned about the resurgence and intensification of violence at Bawku which has resulted in needless deaths of innocent citizens in the area.

A statement signed by the Chairman of the NDF, Major Albert Don-Chebe (Rtd) said the conflict had put the people of Bawku through untold suffering in the past four years and it was worrying that despite calls for peace, there was no end in sight to the conflict that resurged four years ago.

It said unfortunately, there were no signs that the carnage would end soon “because the acts of provocation and impunity appear to be intensifying by the day.

“Unless we the people of northern Ghana unite in one accord in the pursuit of peace and development, we will dissipate our energies and resources in never-ending conflicts founded upon dubious historical narratives that have no relevance for the accelerated development of our communities as we so much desire.

“Once again, northern Ghanaians without exception are confronted by poverty, illiteracy and ignorance. These intolerable ethnic clashes will not contribute to the success or development of any community,” the statement further said.

NDF

The NDF is a group that seeks to bring together people from the five Northern regions of Ghana to promote peace and development in their communities.

Discernable strategy

Major Don-Chebe (Rtd) said it was unfortunate that the resources to support the livelihoods and development have had to be diverted to “fund the endless security and so-called mediation efforts.”

“Citizens of northern Ghana are completely dismayed and traumatised by the intensity of the recent clashes and call upon the government to exercise its authority to sanitise the Bawku area for peace to prevail.

“We are greatly concerned by the seeming absence of discernible government strategy and programme aimed at removing the agent provocateurs in the Bawku area,” the statement stressed.

Unity in diversity

It called on the people of northern Ghana to continue to cherish the richness and diversity of their cultures and history, emphasising that their differences and diversity need not provide grounds for power struggles and domineering.

 “We believe that our cultural and historical diversities are an invitation for mutual respect, cooperation, learning and sharing of our unique identities.

.” Brothers and sisters, put the guns and swords aside and let us join hands to make our communities better places for our future generations,” Major Don-Chebe (Retd) concluded in the statement.