The Member of Parliament for Manso Nkwanta, Tweneboa Kodua Fokuo, has urged the government to urgently resolve the conflict in Bawku, warning that the ongoing instability could expose Ghana to external threats, particularly from terrorist groups operating in the sub-region.
In an interview with the media, Mr. Fokuo stressed the geographical location of Bawku near the Burkina Faso border, noting that the proximity makes it vulnerable to infiltration by armed groups.
He cautioned that terrorists could exploit the situation by forming alliances with one of the factions in the conflict, thereby posing a major national security threat.
He observed that while the conflict might currently appear to be between the Mamprusi and Kusasi ethnic groups, there is a real danger that terrorist groups could convince one side to support them with personnel and weapons, escalating the crisis beyond control.
“Looking at the geographical location of Bawku, which is close to the Burkina Faso border, there is a high risk that terrorists from neighboring countries could take advantage of the instability and infiltrate the country. Today, we may think the conflict is just between the Mamprusi and Kusasi, but in the future, terrorists could exploit the situation,” he sated.
Mr. Fokuo also advised against politicizing the conflict. He emphasized the need for all Ghanaians, regardless of political affiliation, to unite behind efforts to restore stability in the area.
He argued that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is not using the Bawku conflict for political gain, but rather concerned about the broader implications for national security. He called for concrete results from the government’s interventions and a collective national approach to ensure lasting peace.
“We, the NPP, are not using this for politics. Ghanaians must come together to find everlasting peace in Bawku. We only want to see results from whatever measures the government is putting in place,” he added.
