After five years of restrictions, residents of Bawku Municipality can once again ride motorcycles during the day, following a decision by the Government to ease the ban imposed amid recurrent conflict in the area.
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, announced that restrictions on motorbike riding in Bawku Municipality and its environs in the Upper East Region had been reviewed, allowing both men and women to ride motorcycles between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. daily, effective Monday, August 24, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of the Interior, the decision was taken by the Minister on the advice of the National Security Council and by Executive Instrument.
The lifting of the restriction is expected to bring significant relief to residents and provide a major boost to mobility, livelihoods and economic activity in the municipality.
Motorcycles are a critical means of transportation in Bawku, particularly for traders, farmers, artisans, students, workers and residents in communities where access to public transportation can be limited.
For the past five years, the restriction has forced residents to rely heavily on alternative means of transportation, making some journeys more difficult and costly and affecting the movement of people, goods and services.
The return of motorbikes is therefore likely to have an immediate impact on daily economic activities.
Traders could find it easier to move goods between markets and communities, while farmers could have improved access to their farms and markets. Small businesses and service providers who depend on motorcycles for movement and deliveries could also benefit from the relaxation.
The development could further improve access to essential services, including healthcare and education, particularly for residents living in communities outside the municipal capital.
Beyond its economic implications, the decision could be an important psychological boost for a community that has lived under significant security restrictions for years.
The restoration of daytime motorbike riding is likely to be seen by many residents as another indication of a gradual return to normalcy and an opportunity to reclaim aspects of everyday life that have been disrupted by conflict.
Security restrictions remain
Despite the easing of the motorbike restriction, the Government has maintained other security measures in Bawku.
The Ministry said the 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. curfew remains in force.
There is also a total ban on persons within Bawku Municipality and its environs carrying arms, ammunition or any offensive weapons.
The Ministry warned that anyone found in possession of arms or ammunition would be arrested and prosecuted.
The Government has also appealed to traditional authorities, opinion leaders and residents to exercise restraint and support efforts to consolidate peace in the area.
“Government calls on the Chiefs, Elders, Opinion Leaders, Youth and people of the area to exercise restraint in the face of the challenges confronting them as well as to use non-violent means to channel their energies into ensuring peace,” the statement said.
For Bawku residents, the lifting of the motorbike restriction presents a significant opportunity to rebuild economic and social life. But its sustainability will depend largely on the ability of residents and community leaders to preserve the peace and ensure that the new freedom is exercised responsibly.
After five years of restrictions, the return of motorcycles to Bawku’s roads is therefore more than a change in transportation rules. It could be an important step towards restoring normalcy, reviving livelihoods and rebuilding confidence in a community that has endured prolonged conflict.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
