Security expert Prof Kwesi Aning has voiced strong criticism against the government’s lackluster response to the ongoing conflict in Bawku, describing the approach as ineffective and dangerously passive. His comments follow a recent violent outbreak in Binduri, a town in the Upper East Region, which resulted in the tragic deaths of three people, including two young police officers.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, Prof Aning expressed alarm at the escalating violence and the authorities’ apparent unwillingness to take meaningful action. He argued that the current strategy appears to be based on the unrealistic hope that the conflict will resolve itself without intervention. “I believe we are merely tiptoeing around the issue, waiting for the problem to fix itself—but it won’t,” he warned.
The professor emphasized that the threat in the region is growing more serious by the day. Armed groups, emboldened by the lack of a firm response, are becoming increasingly aggressive. He highlighted the widespread availability of weapons and ammunition as a major challenge to restoring peace, noting that the more powerful these armed individuals feel, the harder it will be to reestablish control.
Prof Aning explained that while the conflict initially stemmed from ethnic tensions and chieftaincy disputes, it has now grown beyond local concerns. He warned that if left unchecked, the violence in Bawku could spiral into a broader regional crisis, impacting not just Ghana but the wider West African sub-region. “This issue is no longer just a Ghanaian problem—it is gradually becoming a West African issue,” he stressed, calling for immediate and coordinated intervention from all relevant stakeholders.
The recent surge in violence and the loss of lives have intensified calls for a more proactive and organized national response. Prof Aning argued that merely hoping for peace without concrete action is both naïve and risky. He urged the government to take decisive measures to restore law and order before the situation worsens further.
In his concluding remarks, he called on the authorities to acknowledge the severity of the crisis and move beyond rhetoric. “Wishing the crisis away is not only unrealistic—it is dangerous,” he stated. Prof Aning’s comments serve as a strong call to action, urging both national and regional leaders to act swiftly and decisively to halt the spread of violence and restore peace to Bawku and its surrounding areas.
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