Bawku, Upper East Region – Former Deputy Chief of Staff and leading member of the National Democratic Congress, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has embarked on a peace tour of Bawku as the region badly needs to be reminded of the dire need for peace and harmony. This is a visit in the face of the lingering ethnic tensions that have gripped Bawku and surrounding areas for some time.
She held talks with the local leaders, community members, and youth groups during her tour and called for the avoidance of conflict but dialogue instead. "Peace is essential for development and progress. We must come together as one people to resolve our differences and work towards a prosperous future for Bawku," she said.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang reiterated that education and community involvement were very important for peacemaking to be accomplished. She emphasized that the government and other civil society organizations should invest in programs aimed at ensuring understanding and cooperation among the various ethnic groupings in the area. "We cannot afford to let misunderstandings disrupt our lives. Education is a powerful tool for change, and we must harness it to build bridges among our communities," she added.
She held consultations with the traditional leaders and heard their grievances on the continuing war and its implications on the livelihood of locals. She called for concerted efforts towards peace restoration and asked that leaders be involved in active mediation of disputes and reconciliation among their people.
On this tour, she also paid a visit to the local schools, during which she interacted with the students to encourage them to cultivate values of tolerance and respect amongst themselves: "You are the future of Bawku. You have the power to change the narrative and build a peaceful society," she told the students.
As the tour ended, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang expressed her hope that this visit would inspire common action toward peace in Bawku. "Let us all commit ourselves to a path of dialogue, understanding, and cooperation. We can surmount all our challenges and create a better future for our region.".
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