The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has raised alarm over what he describes as a deadly new dimension in the Bawku conflict — with feuding factions now turning their guns on the security forces.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, April 14, Rev. Fordjour painted a grim picture of the situation in the troubled Bawku enclave, describing it as a fast-deteriorating humanitarian and security crisis.
“The death toll is rising. People are living in fear. Children can’t go to school,” he lamented.
“No essential services are thriving at the moment. Teachers, doctors, and nurses are refusing postings to Bawku.”
He warned that the long-standing tribal conflict has now morphed into a dangerous standoff between factions and state security personnel.
“We’ve seen a worrying trend — the new dimension of the conflict seems to be taking shape between one of the feuding factions and the security services,” he stated.
“It seems like some reprisals are happening between the youth on one side and the police, and that is very dangerous. Because the security is there to ensure the protection of our citizens.”
Rev. Fordjour cautioned that the deepening hostility toward law enforcement threatens the foundations of peace and stability.
“If the dimension of the conflict now extends beyond tribal grievances into clashes with the security agencies who are there to protect them, that can also be very dangerous.”
Calling for immediate restraint on all sides, Rev. Fordjour stressed the urgent need for calm.
“Bawku deserves peace. For peace to prevail, we want all feuding parties to exercise absolute restraint. That will help minimise reprisal attacks. Because if one faction thinks they’ve been attacked and they also go on to reprise, then further escalation is inevitable.”
Beyond restraint, he advocated for a non-partisan, united front to resolve the crisis.
“Government has to step up a bit more,” he urged, emphasizing the need for an approach devoid of political undertones.
“This conflict cannot be politicised. Every politician must remove political tendencies, undertones, and underpinnings from this conflict.”
Rev. Fordjour also criticised political statements in past election cycles, warning that certain pronouncements have only served to inflame tensions.
“We’ve heard promises made just before elections — some suggesting that when a certain party is in power, Bawku conflicts escalate, and when another party is in power, it dies down. This is not the time for that. We must refrain from it.”
He further expressed concern over the alarming proliferation of sophisticated weapons in the conflict zone.
“The kind of weapons our brothers and sisters have access to in Bawku is really troubling,” he stated.
“It’s dangerous. It’s part of the reason why there’s this seeming confidence to even have a standoff with security agencies.”
He called for an urgent investigation into the flow of weapons into the area and decisive action to dismantle the supply chain.
“Wherever the source of this weaponry is, government needs to act urgently,” he declared.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Rev. Fordjour reaffirmed the minority’s support for a unified national effort to restore peace.
“We are supporting the government. All of us must come together, depoliticise this matter, support Otumfuo-led mediation, and restore lasting peace.”
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