For some years now, Bawku has been in the news for no reason other than killing each other and destroying property. A protracted ethnic conflict between the Mamprusi and Kusasi has had devastating impacts on the people of Bawku, including deaths, injuries, displacement, economic hardship, and disruption of social services and livelihoods.
Bawku has been in a state of unrest due to gunshots for the past five years, leaving the area unsafe for living. It has resulted in numerous deaths and injuries, with individuals sustaining gunshot wounds, machete attacks, targeted killings, and other forms of violence.
Since 2020 to date, we have recorded about 200 targeted killings in the Bawku municipality of the Upper East Region.
Many people have been forced to flee their homes due to the violence, leading to displacement and challenging living conditions, particularly in the Sabongari area, a suburb of Bawku municipality.
Numerous target killings have taken place in the Sabongari area, involving both civilians and state security. Narrating the story, a royal from Bawku, Alhaji Aziz, who was affected, shared a devastating account with a journalist about how his house was burned and that he cannot locate his family.
According to him, an international body should come in to help resolve the situation in Bawku to save innocent lives. For his part, he stated that Bawku is no longer safe to live in. He added that the youth of Bawku feel unsafe living in the area and have fled the town, including two of his children who escaped to save their lives. The old man, in his seventies, calls for an international body to intervene, as over 1,000 people in the Bawku municipality have lost their lives, while the youth have also fled the town for safety due to the Kusaasis and Mamprusis conflict.
The military brutality in Bawku is also another factor contributing to the youth leaving the area. The military in Bawku is also brutalizing the people of the area, leaving many with injuries and fears about living there.
The ongoing conflict has caused widespread trauma and psychological distress among the affected population.It has disrupted daily activities, including access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
The conflict has severely impacted economic development and livelihoods, leading to poverty, food insecurity, and limited access to resources.
Businesses have been forced to close, and economic activities have been disrupted, further exacerbating economic hardship.
Bawku used to be a business town; however, the conflict has deepened poverty, particularly among young people, who make up a significant portion of the population.
Healthcare has been disrupted, leading to limited access to medical services and worsening health outcomes.
These issues have created social mistrust and fear, making it difficult for people to live and work together peacefully.
In other words, the conflict has led to the collapse of social ties and relationships, further isolating communities.
The people of Bawku have had a devastating effect on basic education, resulting in reduced completion rates, gender inequality, and damage to educational infrastructure due to ongoing conflict.
Bawku is no longer safe because the conflict has increased the vulnerability of the population to exploitation by criminal and jihadist groups.
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