The Bissa Development Association (BDA) has called on the government to swiftly deploy national strategies to resolve the escalating conflict in Bawku.
It said the warring factions have taken their nefarious activities beyond the Bawku community, for which its escalating and complex nature requires the need to reframe it not just as a localised tribal dispute but as a national priority that merits more serious attention.
Speaking at the Sukuma Festival organised by the Ashanti Regional branch of the BDA in Kumasi on Saturday, the national Chairman of the Association, Alhaji Shaibu Musah Gutare Zanni, demanded urgent actions to curb violence against Bissas stemming from the tensions in Bawku.
“Let me use this opportunity to remind the government that the conflict situation in Bawku is getting worse,” he said.
“The various factions have escalated the conflict to highway attacks within and beyond Bawku. In the month of December alone, one Bissa woman who was returning to Accra after attending a funeral in Bugri was ruthlessly killed, while three Bissa men were admitted at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital for serious fractures on their legs from brutal gunshots in unprovoked attacks.”
The clashes in Bawku have been raging between the Kusasi and Mamprusi ethnic groups, who have long-standing land disputes in the region.
Armed men from both groups have been carrying out attacks, ambushes, and deadly shootings against civilians and security forces. Over 100 people have been killed since the latest bout of fighting erupted in 2021.
Daily gunfire and violent unrest have plagued the streets of Bawku, causing many residents to flee. Security forces, including the police and military, have struggled to contain the conflict despite attempts to separate the factions. But the bloodshed has continued unabated, with reports of frequent fatalities on both sides.
Despite Bissas being generally peace-loving neighbours to the warring factions, they have coincidentally become victims of the actions of the indiscriminate bandits of these Kusasis and Mamprusis.
As it has always been his call for authorities to step up their efforts in bringing lasting peace to the region, the impassioned chairman further cited tragic incidents in Pusiga and Walewale, stating a localised approach is no longer sufficient given the unchecked spread of the conflict beyond Bawku.
“Nine women were ambushed and killed at Pusiga in September 2023, despite having police escort,” he said.
“Similar attacks were reported at Walewale and other areas, all in the name of Bawku conflict,” the chairman revealed to the large audience at Jubilee Park.
“The conflict has assumed a national dimension, and therefore, national strategies must be deployed to deal with the menace.”
He added that criminal elements have exploited the instability and lack of law enforcement in the Bawku conflict zone to further their own illicit aims, making it a complex crisis warranting national-level prioritisation and resources, not just regional containment.
The Sukuma Festival, an annual celebration of culture and heritage, attracted scores of high-profile guests for its second annual edition on Saturday.
Chiefs, politicians, government officials, and business leaders were spotted amongst the crowds, taking in the vibrant performances, music, dance, food, and crafts on display.
The Sukuma Festival was established in 2022 as an annual event to connect Bissas living outside their traditional home region of Kulungungu.
This year’s festival, held on December 30th at Kumasi Jubilee Park, attracted over 3000 attendees.