Renowned policy analyst and former CEO of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, Senyo Hosi, has issued a stern warning that the ongoing conflict in Bawku, if left unchecked, could escalate into a full-blown civil war.
Speaking on the Newsfile segment hosted by Samson Lardy Anyenini on Joy News, Hosi expressed grave concern about the deteriorating security situation in the Upper East Region town, describing it as a national threat requiring immediate intervention from the state.
“If I were president, I would still ask Otumfour, or whoever to mediate the matter and give it a timeline. We can’t have this conversation in perpetuity; this region can actually cause total civil conflict in our country,” he added.
The Bawku conflict, rooted in longstanding chieftaincy and ethnic tensions, has seen intermittent outbreaks of violence between the police and youth in Bawku, resulting in casualties and a heavy security presence in the area.
Hosi criticized the government’s piecemeal approach to the crisis, urging a more comprehensive and neutral strategy. He called for inclusivity and a depoliticized response to the conflict.
“I would expect the NPP and the NDC for the first time to start rallying together because this risk is bigger than their own parochial and myopic interests,” he urged.
He further advocated for the government to adopt a decisive and transformative approach to resolving the situation, suggesting that the state should assume full control over the jurisdiction.
“You can’t continue to destroy the lives of the people there. You have an option: sit down and negotiate or the state will assume full ownership of the land and administration of the place,” he stated.
Hosi also called on the government to consider the economic and social aspects of the conflict, stressing the importance of understanding the underlying grievances.
“Beyond the guns and uniformed men, we must understand the economic desperation and historical grievances that continue to fuel this conflict,” he added.
His remarks come amid heightened concern over recent clashes between the police and youth in Bawku, with calls for a national roadmap to peace in the region continuing to mount.
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