Ibrahim Adjei, a former Secretary at the Office of ex-President Nana Akufo-Addo, has called on politicians to completely distance themselves from the protracted Bawku conflict, warning that political interference is undermining efforts to achieve lasting peace.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Monday, December 22, he disclosed that political alignment and partisan interests have only deepened tensions in the conflict-prone area, making resolution increasingly difficult.
According to him, politicians must adopt a dispassionate posture and resist the temptation to take sides, stressing that peacebuilding efforts stand a better chance when political actors allow affected communities to engage sincerely with neutral mediators.
“If a politician enters the space pushing a political agenda, it does not help the people of Bawku,” he said, adding that citizens, not politicians, are best placed to express vested interests in the conflict while leaders act strictly as honest brokers.
Ibrahim Adjei argued that once politicians decouple themselves from the conflict and relinquish political interests, the conditions would be created for credible mediation and the emergence of what he described as “green shoots of lasting peace” in the enclave.
His comments come amid renewed violence in parts of the North East Region, heightening concerns over security and enforcement of emergency measures.
Four additional houses were reportedly set ablaze in Nalerigu on Saturday night, despite the area being under curfew, raising fresh questions about the effectiveness of security deployment and response during restricted hours.
In response to the latest disturbances, authorities have announced additional restrictions in Nalerigu, including a ban on riding motorbikes and wearing smocks, as part of intensified efforts to contain the violence and restore calm.
