The New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Zebilla, John Kingsley Krugu, has said the claim by the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, that Bawku is only peaceful under the NDC is untrue.

His comments follow John Dramani Mahama’s call during his campaign tour in the Pusiga Naba’s Palace in the Pusiga District of the Upper East Region when he claimed that the Bawku conflict halts anytime the NDC takes over the administration of the country.

However, speaking to Tutuwaa Danso on Starr Today, Dr. Krugu debunked the assertion and expressed confidence in his ability to galvanize support from diverse stakeholders to bring lasting peace to the area.

“Zebilla is relatively peaceful. The security issue is affecting six constituencies, and Zebilla is one of them. We are very conscious, mindful, and integral parts of the process that can lead to peace or lead to the situation escalating. Therefore, we are mindful of what we say in our campaign trail moving around. This conflict historically has benefited the NDC,” he said.

When asked if the NDC would halt the Bawku conflict when it took over the administration of the country, Krugu answered, “That statement is not true. This conflict dates from colonial times. It is a conflict from Kwame Nkrumah era. It is a conflict that has run through up till date. And there’s never been the case”.

“It has always been shaped by politics and I personally have been saying that if one day we have absolute peace in the Kusao traditional area and we are looking for somebody to credit, I will give it to Former President Kufour. Until former President Kufour, it was arbitrary that a new group of people take over to rule this country and probably say, You don’t deserve to be Chief here. Go away, and we bring somebody, and these other people go and mobilize and say, If there is a change in power, we will come back and take.”

“It went on like that until 2001, when former President Kufour took over power and said these systems could not continue. Go to the court and if the court says that A is the chief, I will make sure that we implement the ruling. So for me in the future, if we are looking for someone to credit in Bawku, it should be former President Kufour,” he added.

The Bawku conflict, characterized by ethno-political rivalries between the Kusasis and Mamprusis, has persisted for decades, claiming numerous lives and stifling socio-economic progress in the region.