Even as we relish the positive outcome of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II mediation efforts in the Bawku restlessness, we would like to call for measured commentaries and celebrations.
At the end of such mediations, especially in seemingly intractable stalemates, not all parties will be happy but the overall picture of peace in Bawku and by extension our country is what matters.
We wish to express gratitude to God Almighty for being with the Asantehene in those difficult days and moments as he listened to the two parties.
We thank former President Akufo-Addo who paved the way for the Asante King’s mediatory role. As President John Dramani Mahama said, upon assumption of office, he received security briefings about his predecessor’s earlier signal to the Asantehene to commence a mediatory role in the Bawku feud, a replication of the Yendi template.
Upon a confirmation from the King, he too endorsed the assignment which has culminated in the arrival at today’s milestone.
We are excited that the role of the Asantehene and the chieftaincy institution in matters of state has been recognised.
Let us insulate politics from our chieftaincy institution so that chiefs as managers of our heritage will command the necessary deference they need to perform such mediatory roles as done by the Asantehene in both Dagbon and Bawku.
It is instructive that the President has acknowledged the importance of the Asantehene who, as he put it, does not only belong to the Asantes but a national asset.
So much blood has been unnecessarily spilled in Bawku over a tractable problem.
Let politicians mind their language and be measured in their communication in places where tensions are high, and above all learn lessons from Bawku.
Lies, propaganda and unsubstantiated allegations do not help where misunderstandings prevail.
Following the completion of the work of the Asantehene and before the submission of the report and recommendations, one of the politicians from Bawku had made comments which sought to derail the work of the mediator. It is our hope that he, like others who think like him, would be guided in their comments so that peace as a final goal would be achieved without blood spilling.
Social media posts which tend to inflame already tensed situations and incite people to violence should be avoided; those who spread hate posts and lies should be tracked down and dealt with according to law.
A day after the engagement with the President, a social media activist and who is associated with one of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer contestants allegedly posted a fake news using GHOne as a medium. Giving oxygen to the mendacious post would not be productive to peace. Suffice it to state however that the television station has dissociated itself from the post, stating that it is fake and has nothing to do with them.
We pray that Bawku returns to its pre-conflict days glory as a thriving business hub attracting traders from Niger, Togo and Burkina Faso and proudly adding to Ghana’s GDP.
Developments which eluded the municipality would hopefully return here, and like Yendi in Dagbon which shed violence and now enjoying physical development, troubled Bawku would experience same.