Motor riders on the Bawku road
Pillion-riding has been banned in the Bawku municipality as a new security measure in the restive town.
The decision was reached after an emergency meeting of the Upper East Regional Security Council over the situation in the municipality.
Bawku has been a scene of chieftaincy related violence which flares intermittently, the last one having taken place a few weeks ago.
Pillion-riding, which refers to motorcyclists carrying others on the same motorcycle, has been used a lot to commit violence in the municipality.
The emergency meeting examined the situation in the municipality and decided upon the ban, which does not however include women riders carrying women on the same motorbike. A woman cannot however carry a man on the same motorbike, according to the directive from the Regional Security Council which was signed by the Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu.
The meeting also decided that maximum security should be provided the Total and GOIL filling stations in the Bawku township.
In an earlier decision, the wearing of smocks was also banned because it is suspected that some persons hide weapons in such dresses.
By A.R. Gomda