The Kumasi-based Kusaug Youth group in Bawku has expressed displeasure about the security situation in Kusaug in the area.
In a release signed by the Ashanti chairman of the Kusaug Youth, Mr Abdul Rahman Mumuni called on the security in the area to be on the lookout for certain individuals they claimed are fanning the flames of ethnocentrism and the conflict.
“It is quite interesting why certain individuals who threaten and destabilize the peace- and the peacemaking process by fanning the flames of ethnocentrism and ethnic cleansing are left on the hook whilst the innocent ones are rather arbitrary arrested and locked up under police custody to suffer while the perpetrators and advocates for war and killings are left to further exacerbate the precarious circumstances in Bawku,” the group stated.
Below is the full statement
PRESS RELEASE BY THE KUSAUG YOUTH IN KUMASI
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, thank you very much for honouring our invitation to this very important moment of our lives especially, regarding issues of our dear land, the Kusaugland, presided over by the President of the Kusaug Traditional Area Zugraan, Naba Abugrago Azoka Il.
We the youth of Kusaug residing in Kumasi and its environments wish to state our displeasure and outer dismay about the security situation in Kusaug, and how certain individuals who threaten and destabilize the peace and peace making process by fanning the flames of ethnocentrism and ethnic cleansing are left on the hook whilst the innocent ones are rather arbitrary arrested and locked up under police custody to suffer and the perpetrators and advocates for war and killings are left to further exacerbate the precarious circumstances in Bawku.
WARMONGER MAJEED BAGURA
Majeed Bagura is a warmonger who is leading a group of people terrorizing areas like Sabon-Gari. This same person has been heard on times without number saying that “if the funeral of their late family head is not performed, the security was just postponing an outbreak of the conflict” this video was widely published, and he made this statement at the full glare and before all the security chiefs present on that day at their family head’s house even before the conflict broke out since last year.
This man is still walking about freely and terrorizing people around without being called to order nor even arrested for his reckless statement which subsequently brought us to this miserable situation we are in now. Knowing very well that, no centuries of guns firing, and no amount of terror could change the status quote.
Chiefs, sons, and daughters from Kusaug residing in and within in Nayiri under the rulership of the Nabagu cannot even with the heaviest of alcohol ever think, nor dream of becoming the King of Nayiri. However, here we are with ungrateful beings in Bawku who still hang on to a belief they could only imagine. We beg to ask the question how possible could Mamprusi ever rule Kusaasis in their own land?
Majeed Bagura together with Naba Tampuri and the eleven others who were standing trial for causing this needless conflict through their ethnocentric and incendiary comments on their pseudonym accounts on various social media have been discharged and freed. This has given people the notion that they can misbehave and still get to walk scot free. Kusaasis are law-abiding citizens, the reason we cannot claim any ownership of Nayiri, the reason we have coexisted with them for a very long time but our magnanimity has been misunderstood to mean we are weakling. We are calling on all minor tribes and settlers of Kusaug land that, the development of Kusaug is paramount and that, by all means available to all unsatisfied individuals related to either supposed chieftaincy or land disputes should be directed to the courts instead of resorting to the destabilization of peace and security of the area.
Our friends from the media, we also entreat all other tribes should follow the right processes to be enskinned as tribal chiefs of the land and pay homage to Zugraan, Naba Abugrago Azoka Il as Chiefs for ensuring the welfare of their subjects. We, Kusaasis who reside within and out of the six (6) administrative districts are peace-loving citizens and committed to the welfare of our people and enough must be said about this senseless conflict, the killings, and pains inflicted on innocent citizens on an issue that has been resolved and dealt with accordingly by the Supreme Court of Ghana.
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, it is no more news that Sule Yirimiah, the President’s appointee as a council of state member representative for Upper East is complicit in the recent development in the Bawku clashes as He (Sule Yirimiah) with his interest in becoming the paramount chief of the Kusaug land has intentionally or unintentionally contributed to this tension. We suggest that Sule Yirimiah should resign from his current position as a government appointee for the council of state and explicitly show his interest in becoming the paramount chief of Bawku by legally fighting the Supreme Court ruling on the matter in order to save the innocent lives lost as a result of this conflict.
The President of Ghana has spoken on several occasions regarding the conflict in Bawku; unfortunately, Dr. Mahmud Bawumia’s silence on the Bawku’s conflict is not helping matters. We suggest that his Excellency Dr. Mahmud Bawumia should come out and publically declare his stance on the Supreme Court ruling on the Bawku conflict. His Excellency should also make it clear to the people of Bawku that whoever is arrested in relation to the conflict will not receive any favours from him or anyone for that matter and will be made to bear the full punishments of the law.
ATTACKS AND BURNING OF TIMBER MARKET BY THE MAPURUSI
YOUTH
Three days to the incident, the overload of Bawku Name released a press statement calling for peace and maximum security for the entire people of Bawku and its environs. Respecting the call for peace and security in Bawku the Kusaug youth paid heed to the Zugraana, Naba Abugrago Azoka Il and reposed confidence in the security that they are in full control of maximum security within the municipality. However, the Mamprusi youth disregarding the press release and the directives from the regional security council went to attack and burn the timber market belonging to the Kusaug youth on 24th of August 2022 between 12:30AM and 01 :30 AM killing one instantly and injuring the security guard on duty and he is currently receiving treatment. As a result of the fire, 2000 pieces of wood (timber) burned beyond usage. The estimated value of the timber is about GHS 150,000 and the burnt sawing machine also values over GHS30,000.
We therefore, condemn the recent attack because it happened during curfew hours, about 50 metres away from the Municipal Police Headquarters and very close to the Bawku Municipal Assembly where the Military are camped. We are baffled about how the Mamprusi youth could cause this heinous crime in the premises of the security personnel deployed to ensure peace in the area while the military had no clue. So, we therefore appeal to the security personnel deployed to this area to be impartial and avoid biasness in exercising their duties and not allowing the Mamprusi youth to attach the Kusasis during the curfew hours in destroying lives and properties, and their source of livelihood.
THE BAWKU FM
Ladies and gentlemen of the media as wé all know the role of journalism and media with one of their prime responsibilities being to educate the people, entertain, and ensure peaceful and harmonious living among people. It is rather unfortunate that, that cannot be said about the BAWKU FM in Bawku which is now the leading platform for spreading hate speech and propagating acts of violence and killings. The security is aware of this media station, stakeholders and all the powerful people in the society are aware of this but nothing is been done to close this FM station to curtail their heart-aching comments and help restore peace and security in the BAWKU district. The people of Bawku need peace like other towns in Ghana. This can only be achieved when laws are being enforced. We can’t continue to be in this situation of lawlessness because of some few rascals.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation.
cc.
Jubilee House, Accra.
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Interior
NIB-Bawku and Regional Office
RESEC-UE/R
MUSEC-Bawku
MCE-Bawku
ALL MEDIA HOUSES
EXECUTIVES
- Abdul Rahman Mumuni (Youth Chairman — Ashanti)
- Ibrahim Salifu
- Mohammed Akomna’ab (0244801
