Mark Woyongo, caretaker Regional Minister for Upper East, said recent gunshots in Bawku that has resulted in fatalities, could partly be blamed on the possession of unauthorized guns by some people in the area.

He said fresh intelligence gathered by the Upper East Regional Security Council (UEREGSEC) and the Bawku Municipal Security Council (MUSEC), show that the recent sporadic shootings in Bawku were not ethnic-based as being speculated by some members of the public.

Mr Woyongo, who is also chairman of UEREGSEC, was speaking at a forum, organized for leaders of ethnic groups, the youth, Assembly Members, and security agencies to find a lasting solution to shooting incidents in Bawku.

He said UREGSEC has ensured relative peace in Bawku for the past four years until the recent gunshots, which has led to the death of one person and scores of people injured.

“As a result of guns in the hands of many people in Bawku, at the least provocation, people want to test their guns to find out if they are functioning, and this is very dangerous. Everybody, particularly community leaders and opinion leaders, must play significant roles in getting rid of these nasty acts”, Mr Woyongo stressed.

He said the UEREGSEC in collaboration with the MUSEC had instituted measures, including voluntary surrendering of guns, and a reward of 3,000 Ghana cedis to any person who would divulge information that could lead to the retrieval of guns or about any criminal activity that could breach peace process in the area. Mr Woyongo also said the two committees had promised to reward any person who would volunteer information that would lead to the arrest of those involved in the recent shootings in Bawku.

He said the security agencies would intensify patrols in the Bawku Municipality and improve on intelligence gathering to curb crime.

Mr Woyongo appealed leaders of the ethnic groups to alert the security agencies about the presence of criminals in their communities.

He stressed that “If you want to live in peace you must be prepared to expose your kinsmen who are involved in criminal activities to the security agencies. Your sources will be protected”.

Mr Woyongo said: “reflect on what happened in the 2007 conflict that resulted in the closing down of schools and many workers deserting Bawku".

The Bawku Municipal Chief Executive appealed to the people to initiate measures to ensure lasting peace in the area.