Bolgatanga, Jan. 1, GNA - Two people including a medical officer of the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital have been killed by unidentified persons at North Natinga in Bawku, Upper East Regional Crime Officer, Superintendent Edward Tabiri has told GNA.

Sup Tabiri said two others were wounded in the incident which took place the under the cover of darkness at about 1930 hours on Thursday 31 December 2009.

The dead were Dr Roger Alenlega, 57, the Medical Officer and Hamid Rahamani, 55, a Storekeeper. Both belong to the Yanga ethnic group. The wounded were Issah Bonaba, a 70-year old Mamprusi Farmer, and Musah Bukari, 24, Trader, a Yanga.

Sup. Tabri said the Security personnel deployed in the area have intensified patrols. The situation has been brought under control. The Police have begun investigations.

Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, expressed his shock about the incident and appealed to those who were engaged in such acts to desist from that since it would not help anyone.

The chiefs and people of the Kussasi Traditional Area celebrated their annual "Samanpiid" festival without any incident last Tuesday during which President John Evans Atta Mills, in a speech read on his behalf, urged the people of Bawku to restore the glory of the Township by co-existing peacefully.

President Mills said Bawku used to be one of the areas where economic activities boomed and opened up a lot of employment avenues for the people and generated huge internal revenue for the Government. He appealed to Kussasis and Mamprusis to reflect on and ponder over the amount of money that was being spent in keeping the peace in the area and said such monies could have been used to provide infrastructure like schools and health facilities.

President Mills said the Government was committed to ensuring that peace returned to the area and that was why it was committing many resources into restoring peace to the area.

He said unless the people in the area cultivated a culture of peace, harmony and good neighbourliness Government's efforts would amount to nothing.