Bolgatanga, June 21, GNA- A peace conference was organised in Bolgatanga at the weekend, to find lasting solution to the Bawku crises and other flash points in the Upper East Region. The Ansarul Islam, a local Muslim youth organisation and the Regional Peace Council organised the event.

Mr Mark Woyongo, Regional Minister, whose speech was read on his behalf by the Deputy Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni commended the organisers of the programme for contributing towards the peace process. He said government alone could not deal with conflicts in the region and called for collaborative efforts to resolve the Bawku crisis. Mr Woyongo noted that the Regional Security Council and the Inter-Ethnic Peace Committee, formed by the Regional Co-ordinating Council recently are doing all it could do, to help bring peace to the area. He said the Bawku conflict had robbed the area of professionals manning hospitals, schools, the agriculture sector and other vital institutions. It had also scared off potential investors and denied the people the very employment opportunities that they urgently needed to enhance their livelihood.

"Finding lasting peace in Bawku and other parts of the region is therefore my administration's priority," he emphasized. Mr Woyongo said the region, which used to be the most peaceful had regrettably degenerated into an embarrassing status. He said aside of the protracted Bawku conflict, there were other pockets of conflicts across the region emanating from land, ethnic, and chieftaincy litigations.

Mr Abugre James Atagyine, Secretary of the Bawku Inter-Ethnic Peace Committee said the Committee was fairly represented by Kusasis and Mamprusis, the two feuding ethnic groups and was working hard to help restore peace in the area. He mentioned community meetings, radio discussions and engagement of the citizens in the area and residents outside the Bawku Traditional Area, as some of the strategies being used by the committee in discharging its duties.

Mr Atagyine noted that the committee is ever prepared to collaborate and work with all stakeholders interested in bringing permanent peace in the area, and appealed to the people of Bawku to exercise restraint and provide accurate and reliable information that would enable the security personnel to flush out the criminals in the area. The committee entreated the youth not to be influenced by people who want to use them to achieve their selfish motives at the expense of peace.