Joseph Ade Coker, the former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has voiced his support for the Inspector-General of Police’s (IGP) proposal to recruit youth from the Bawku area into the police service. This initiative, according to Ade Coker, is a crucial step towards fostering unity and achieving long-term peace in the region, which has been marred by ethnic and political conflicts.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Monday, April 14, Ade Coker highlighted the significance of creating employment opportunities for the youth in Bawku, where rising unemployment and a decline in agriculture have led to social unrest. He pointed out that the youth in Bawku are often left idle, with limited access to jobs in a region traditionally dependent on farming. However, due to drought and other challenges, agriculture has been in decline, contributing to the high unemployment rates.
Ade Coker’s comments followed the visit of IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno to Bawku on April 11, 2025. During his visit, the IGP announced that young people from the area would be prioritized in the upcoming police recruitment, provided they commit to peace and disarmament. The IGP also revealed that a dedicated recruitment team would be stationed in Bawku to facilitate the process as part of the police’s broader efforts to restore stability to the region.
Despite some criticism of the proposal, with some suggesting that it oversimplifies the region’s complex ethnic tensions, Ade Coker believes the initiative has the potential to unite the conflicting factions. He explained that by having youth from both the Kusasi and Mamprusi communities work together in the police force, they would be able to better understand one another and the importance of working together for the greater good. The training and cooperation involved in the police force could lead to a reduction in long-standing hostilities, according to Ade Coker.
The proposal to recruit youth from Bawku into the police service is seen as an effort to provide meaningful employment while addressing the region’s deep-rooted conflicts. Ade Coker’s endorsement emphasizes the importance of bringing the youth together in national service, fostering social cohesion, and contributing to lasting peace in the area.
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