The Mamprugu Youth Association (MAYA) Bawku Chapter has issued a pressing call for enhanced security measures along the Bolgatanga – Bawku – Pulmakom highway, highlighting the urgent need for scheduled security escorts.
They commend the Regional Security Council and Ghana Police Service for their efforts in maintaining peace but stress the necessity of impartial and inclusive protection for residents, particularly those from diverse ethnic backgrounds who frequently face violence.
“The Bolgatanga – Bawku – Pulmakom highway has recorded over 50 fatal attacks since 2021 orchestrated by Kusasi bandits against commuters”, the statement revealed.
The Mamprugu Youth Association emphasized that Security analysts have warn that these attacks could escalate into broader regional instability, potentially attracting violent extremist organizations.
MAYA urges immediate action to safeguard commuters and restore their fundamental rights to life and movement.
They emphasize that equitable security measures should mirror those implemented on other highways in the region, calling for a swift governmental response to ensure safety for all citizens traveling this vital corridor.
Read the full statement:
A CALL FOR URGENT ACTION: REQUEST FOR JOINT SECURITY ESCORT ON THE BOLGATANGA – BAWKU – PULMAKOM INTERNATIONAL HIGHWAY
The Mamprugu Youth Association (MAYA) Bawku Chapter wishes to commend the Regional Security Council, the Joint Security Task Force and the Ghana Police Service in particular for the sacrifices and hard work exhibited to contain and maintain relative peace in the area.
While commending them for work they do, we wish to humbly draw the attention of the Chairman for the Upper East Regional Security Council and members to as matter of urgency consider the their legal and moral obligation to deliver service with impartiality, integrity and inclusiveness by acting swiftly to provide regular, planned and scheduled security escorts for the citizens within the city centre of Bawku.
Resident of the Bawku city centre are mostly Mamprusi, Dagomba, Hausa, Kasena, Fulani, Moshies among others are often attacked and killed when leaving or entering Bawku, thereby depriving them of their fundamental human rights to life, free movement, survival and livelihood.
The Bolgatanga – Bawku – Pulmakom highway has recorded over 50 fatal attacks since 2021 orchestrated by Kusasi bandits against commuters.
Victims targeted are mostly innocent people who happen to have been born and living within Mamprusi dominated parts of the town.
A recent example is the attack along the Pusiga – Cinkasse highway that resulted in the death of 9 women including a Togolese. A more recent attack was at Misiga on the Bawku – Pulmakom highway on Saturday, 26th October and Thursday, 31st October 2024 which saw vehicles attacked and lives lost.
Security analysts have linked these incessant attacks to reprisals in the Walewale area which has a potential of spreading into other parts of the country with potential for exploitation by Violent Extremist Organizations (VEOs). It also exposes Ghana to international embarrassment as Bawku is an international
route.
We believe that with the right leadership and political will, the effort put to prevent the Walewale area attacks can be marshaled to contain the more deadly ones which happens more frequently within the roads leading to and fro the Bawku area.
We are therefore as an association calling on your office to act with urgency to curtail the wanton attacks of vehicles and commuters especially of Mamprusi extraction and their sympathizers by the Kusasis on the Bolgatanga – Bawku – Pulmakom highway.
Our lives equally matter. If since a joint Police and Military deployment could be assigned so swiftly on the Bolgatanga – Walewale – Tamale highway, the spirit of equity and justice requires that our demand for urgent deployment of scheduled security escorts on the Bolgatanga – Bawku – Pulmakom highway be acted upon with immediate effect to guarantee the state obligation to protect, promote and uphold the rights of citizens.
We encourage you to take measures to end the impunity by ensuring security for all vehicular traffic on the highway.
We trust that you will exercise your legal and obligatory mandate without fear, favour or bias providing security. We have followed keenly sir, your service standards and understand you are a just and fair man.
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Source: www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
