I beg you, let us not politicise Bawku conflict – Mahama Ayariga

Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, has called on fellow lawmakers and political commentators to avoid politicising the protracted Bawku conflict, warning that doing so risks further destabilising an already volatile situation.

Speaking in Parliament during a debate on the Mid-Year Budget Review, Ayariga responded to criticism from Dominic Nitiwul, former Defence Minister and NPP MP for Bimbilla, who had accused the government of failing to adequately fund and equip the military to swiftly address the ongoing crisis in Bawku.

Mr. Ayariga dismissed the notion that the conflict should be used for political gain, stating, “The Bawku conflict did not start today; it dates back to 1957. It is disingenuous for any party to score cheap political points from it.” He further appealed for sensitivity, adding, “I beg you, don’t politicise Bawku… let’s be sensitive to the volatile security situation.”

Mr. Nitiwul had also disputed claims by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson that 3,500 motorbikes had been distributed to security agencies to help combat insecurity, calling into question the government’s commitment to tackling the crisis.

The debate comes at a time when the Bawku conflict has once again surged to national attention following the killing of a Kusasi chief in Asawase, Kumasi, and the subsequent deaths of two students at Nalerigu Senior High School by unknown gunmen, incidents believed to be linked to the ethnic tensions in Bawku.

Hon. Ayariga assured the House that the government was working relentlessly to restore peace and stability to the area, even as public pressure mounts for a decisive response to end the bloodshed.