Bawku (U/E), Aug 17, GNA - The government has given a 32-seat bus to the Bawku Inter-Ethnic Peace Committee to enable it to go on outreach programmes to educate the people on the need to keep peace in the area. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo who presented the bus, said it was in response to the committee's request to government for means of transport to discharge its duties effectively. A representative of the citizens of the area living in the United Kingdom, Mr. Dominic Mbanga, also donated two motorbikes to the committee to help them reach out to more people. The minister urged members of the committee to remain neutral in the discharge of their duties.

Mr. Woyongo assured the Inter-Ethnic Committee that the Regional Coordinating Council and the Bawku Municipal Council would collaborate with them to ensure that peace was maintained. The Co-chairmen of the Committee, Mr. Thomas Avilla and Mr. David Belko, leaders of the Kusasis and Mamprusis respectively, assured the government that they would build upon what had been achieved so far. They appealed to the people of Bawku to reciprocate the efforts Government was putting up to end the conflict in the area by living in peace.

The secretary of the Inter-Ethnic Committee, My Joseph Abugre said the committee had drawn up a plan and this include community meetings, radio discussions, engagement of citizens in the area and residents outside Bawku Traditional Area and counselling. He said one of the challenges facing the committee was gossip and spread of false information and appealed to people in the area to desist from the practice especially giving false information to the media. He thanked the government, the security agencies, Bawku citizens and other organizations for contributing to the maintenance of peace in Bawku. Mr. Mbanga said Bawku citizens in United Kingdom were very disturbed about the conflict in the area and urged the people to desist from conflict. 17 Aug 09