Former Defense Minister Dominic Nitiwul has expressed regret over the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government’s inability to achieve lasting peace in Bawku, despite making significant efforts to address the region’s ongoing conflict.

In an interview with Joy News, Nitiwul acknowledged that while the government took various steps to stabilize the area, including deploying security forces and fostering dialogue, the desired resolution to the conflict remained elusive.

“We did whatever we needed to do to keep peace in Bawku, but total peace eluded us. That would be the regret I will say we have,” Nitiwul stated.

He noted that the government worked closely with traditional and community leaders in addition to security measures, but the long-term resolution to the ethnic and chieftaincy-related tensions, particularly between the Kusasi and Mamprusi groups, has not yet been achieved.

Nitiwul emphasized the importance of the issue, recalling that former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo expressed regret about the failure to restore full peace in Bawku during his final State of the Nation Address.

“The president mentioned in his address that he regrets we couldn’t find total peace in Bawku. That shows how important the issue was to him and the message he wanted to pass on to the incoming government,” Nitiwul said, urging the new administration to prioritize building trust in the region to ensure lasting peace.

The conflict, which has resulted in numerous casualties, including 41 deaths in recent clashes, continues to affect the region. Nitiwul’s comments reflect the urgency of continued efforts to resolve the long-standing issues in Bawku.

Source:TheDotNews