President John Dramani Mahama has condemned the renewed violence in Bawku, blaming it on individuals who are deliberately attempting to sabotage ongoing mediation efforts aimed at restoring lasting peace in the area.
Speaking during a courtesy call by the Overlord of Gonjaland, His Royal Majesty Yagbonwura BII-Kunutu Jewu Soale I, in Accra on Tuesday, July 29, President Mahama expressed grave concern about the impact of the conflict on education and public service delivery in the troubled town.
“We cannot accept the current situation in Bawku, where students are shot in school and killed. We cannot accept the situation where teachers and workers have run away for their lives,” President Mahama said.
He noted that the government had entrusted the peace process to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who has been actively leading mediation efforts to bring an end to the long-standing conflict. According to the President, the Asantehene has been providing regular updates, and significant progress has been made toward resolution.
“We have given the mediation to Otumfuo, and he has constantly briefed me on the mediation efforts, and we are almost there,” he stated.
President Mahama described the latest acts of violence as calculated attempts by certain individuals to derail the peace process.
“So, the current fighting and killing can only be done by people who want to derail the mediation efforts,” he added.