MPs condemn Bawku hostilities

Page 16, June 26, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah

Five Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Bawku Traditional Area have condemned the resurgence of hostilities in the area, leading to the loss of lives and property.
The MPs also condemned the general situation in Bawku and said lawlessness was becoming a normal practice with individuals taking the law into their hands and visiting havoc on others.
They are Mr John Ndebugre (Zebilla), Mr Mahama Ayariga (Bawku Central), Mr Mark-Anthony Awuni (Binduri), Mr Dominic Azimbe Azumah (Garu-Tempane), and Mr Simon Atingban Akunye (Pusiga).
In a statement read by Mr Ndebugre, they condemned the stoning to death of a Mamprusiman, Mr Zakaria Abangre, by a mob at Buabula Bongin, a suburb of Bawku.
They stated that although Mr Zakaria had been seen moving outside his house during the curfew hours, he could have been apprehended and handed over to the security agencies.
“We condemn in greater measure, the dastardly and gruesome murder of defenceless and vulnerable persons who were massacred by uniformed persons and warn the perpetrators of such acts that they infringe international humanitarian law”.
They also expressed deep concern about the use of military uniforms by unauthorised persons for criminal purposes and called on the government and the security agencies to unmask those persons and bring them to justice.
They said that the situation had now become a law and order issue that required resolute action by the state.
“Perpetrators of criminal acts must be sought, apprehended and dealt with in accordance with the law”, they said and called on judicial authorities to apply the law in a manner that would send a clear message that the nation was not in the mood to tolerate lawlessness.
The MPs took note of the efforts being made by the National Peace Council to find a lasting solution to the crisis and regretted the embarrassment that the latest incident had caused the eminent members of the council.
The MPs assured the council of their full co-operation and assistance and urged them not to relent in the face of the recent destabilising act by the people in the area.