The presidential candidate of the All People's Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga, has lamented the government’s failure to maintain peace in his hometown, Bawku, in the Upper East Region.

Speaking at the 'Peace Campaign 2024,' organized by the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) on Sunday, November 3, 2024, Ayariga revealed that one of his bodyguards was among over 20 people who have been killed since the resurgence of the Bawku conflict.

He shared that his bodyguard, while travelling to Bolgatanga, was forcibly removed from his vehicle and burned to death.

“I want the government to sit up. The problem in Bawku is escalating. I’m just coming from a funeral. I was there with the Chief Imam to bury four people from Accra who were shot and killed in Walewale. Just driving the stretch to Bolga, there are roadblocks where people are being dragged from their cars, shot, and burned with impunity,” he said.

“One of my bodyguards is a victim. I just lost one of my bodyguards who was burned to ashes. So, as we are here, this forum is not just for peace—it’s raising awareness of something bigger. Four weeks to elections, and this is happening in Bawku, it is happening in Walewale. It’s spreading; soon, we may not even be able to sleep in our homes,” Ayariga added.

He noted that since the conflict reignited, he has struggled to find peace, describing Bawku as resembling a war zone where people are being killed without cause.

“Today, I can’t sleep because Bawku is at war. My mother is from the Mamprusi tribe, my father from the Kusasi tribe, and they are fighting as we speak. Gunshots are everywhere. The town is a ghost town, and as a presidential candidate, I need peace more than anyone,” he expressed.

He emphasized that while peace is costly, war is far more devastating. Ayariga warned of the region's instability, citing unrest in neighboring Burkina Faso and Togo, and urged the government to take immediate action.

Ayariga called on all Ghanaians to contribute to resolving the ongoing conflict in Bawku.

“Bawku’s problem is not just for the people of Bawku; it is for the whole country. The sooner we solve it, the better for us. I am pleading with the media, clergy, and everyone to play their role in advocating for peace to resolve the Bawku issue.”

Watch his remarks in the video below:





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