Bawku (UER), April 17, GNA- Health workers of the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, who have refused to go back to work for fear of their lives, were on Wednesday assured of their safety and asked to resume work as soon as possible. The health workers, mainly Kusasis, were reluctant to go back to work since calm returned to Bawku about two weeks ago. They claim to have received text messages threatening and warning them to stay away from the hospital, which is located in a Mamprusi neighbourhood.

Mr Abdulai Abanga, Bawku Municipal Chief Executive, and Captain Awuah Ameyaw, Army Commander in charge of Bawku Detachment, in the company of the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) and representatives of the Kusasis and Mamprusis, met with the health workers in Bawku to discuss the problem and persuade them to go back to work. Mr Abanga appealed to the workers to resume work, but not to discuss issues pertaining to the conflict or make utterances that might incite passions in others. He said the present peace embraced the entire Municipality and urged those who need to go to hospital to do so and not to be afraid because they would be safe.

Captain Ameyaw assured the health workers of 24 hour protection and asked them to feel free to report to the security officers anytime they felt threatened. Representatives of the two tribes, Mr Thomas Abilla and Mr David M. Belko called on their people to cooperate with the security agencies to maintain peace, cautioning that they would be held accountable for any disturbance in their respective neighbourhoods. Mr Belko on behalf of the Mamprusis assured the health workers and all others that it was safe to go to the hospital at any time.