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President Kufuor meets Bawku Na-ba others in effort to
calm the North
Accra, March 13, Ghanadot/GNA - President John Agyekum
Kufuor has called on
the chiefs and people in Bawku to consign their traditional
differences to history to help bring calm and restore peace
to the area.
He said they should do everything to ensure peace to enable
the youth to engage themselves in profitable ventures.
"You should be able to live peacefully as Ghanaians", he
said in remarks before going into closed door meeting with
the Bawku Na-ba, Na Asigri Abugrago Azoka, his sub-chiefs,
Members of Parliament (MPs), opinion and some youth leaders
at the Credentials Hall of the Osu, Castle.
The meeting, which was at the instance of President Kufuor
was meant to explore ways to end the violence in that part
of the country and allow all to go about their lawful
activities without hindrance.
Violent clashes raging between the Kusasis, the majority
ethnic group, and the Mamprusis had claimed a number of
lives and left many others injured, a situation that had
forced the Government to impose a curfew in the area.
Security personnel sent to keep the peace are reported to
have come under fire, giving a disturbing twist to the
situation.
President Kufuor said; "I have not been unconcerned. I have
been in constant touch with the Bawku Na-ba. Unfortunately
trouble keeps raging in this corner of the country."
He said he appreciated the concern for peace by Na Azoka and
encouraged him to serve as "father to every body in his
traditional area."
To the MPs, President Kufuor said, he was counting on them
to rise beyond political party divide to help achieve
lasting peace for the people.
This entailed providing responsible leadership by accepting
to play by the ground rules of politics.
President Kufuor expressed dissatisfaction with the
situation where resources that could have gone into the
development of Bawku were being spent to keep the peace.
He noted that Bawku had bright prospects of becoming one of
the richest part of the nation, given the absence of bloody
ethnic conflicts.
The Government wanted to see the area become a vibrant and
prosperous place.
Na-ba Azoka said he was grateful to President Kufuor for the
opportunity to brainstorm on how to bring lasting peace and
security to his traditional area.
GNA
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