Arrest and prosecute perpetrators of Bawku unrest — Chief Imam urges Ghana police 

A respected Muslim cleric, Imam Sulemana Iddrisu Bamba, has issued a stern warning to the government over the escalating violence in Bawku, urging swift arrests and prosecution of those behind the unrest. He cautioned that the prolonged conflict, if not decisively dealt with, could spark wider instability and potentially plunge the entire nation into chaos.

Imam Bamba, who serves as the First Deputy Chief Imam for Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai in the Western North Region, made the call during a press interaction, where he expressed grave concern over the government’s seeming inability to bring the situation under control. According to him, the continuous killings, retaliations, and destruction of property have gone on for far too long without any meaningful accountability.

“The Bawku conflict is no longer a local matter. It is fast becoming a national security threat,” the Imam stated. “I am pleading with the government to rise above politics and arrest all perpetrators without fear or favour. If this issue is allowed to fester, it may escalate into a full-blown war that could engulf the whole country.”

He further stressed that peace and development cannot coexist with lawlessness, and that the government’s silence or slow action could be interpreted as complicity or weakness. The cleric also called on the National Peace Council, religious leaders, and traditional authorities to jointly mount pressure on political leaders to act with urgency and transparency.

Touching on the human cost of the conflict, Imam Bamba lamented the needless loss of innocent lives, displacement of families, and the disruption of education and commerce in the area. He said it was heartbreaking to see children and women caught in the crossfire, with little or no intervention from those in authority.

The Imam concluded by calling for dialogue, reconciliation, and justice as the only way to bring lasting peace to Bawku. “You cannot build peace on injustice. Those responsible must face the full rigour of the law. Only then can trust be restored,” he added.