Senior Vice President of IMANI Africa and legal expert, Kofi Bentil, has
called for a shift in strategy to address the protracted conflict in Bawku,
emphasizing the need for military intervention. Speaking during an appearance on
JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on April 12, Bentil argued that the crisis in Bawku
has surpassed the capacity of the police service and requires a more forceful
and tactical approach to achieve lasting peace.
Bentil noted that the continued reliance on the police to restore calm in
the troubled enclave has not yielded the desired results over the years.
According to him, the volatile nature of the situation necessitates a more
decisive and coordinated response, which can best be executed by the military.
He stated firmly that Bawku’s unrest is not merely a matter of maintaining
law and order but rather a deeply rooted conflict that demands a strategic
intervention. “The Bawku situation is not a police matter and it is not a
situation of maintaining law and order because we have been using it for a long
time and we have been failing,” Bentil remarked. “It’s an army situation. We
must make it an army situation and it’ll be dealt with.”
The Bawku conflict, which has persisted for years, has seen several
flare-ups resulting in loss of lives and displacement of residents. Despite
numerous peace efforts and security deployments, the violence has continued,
raising serious concerns about the sustainability of current approaches.
Bentil’s comments add to the broader national discourse on the best path
forward for restoring stability in the Upper East region town. Public sentiment
continues to grow around the need for a new strategy that moves beyond
conventional policing, with many calling on government and security agencies to
act more decisively.
The call for military involvement echoes the frustrations of residents and
stakeholders who have witnessed repeated cycles of violence without meaningful
resolution. The issue remains a top security concern for the country, as
leaders work to find a lasting solution that ensures the safety and well-being
of all affected communities.
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