Security analyst Irbard Ibrahim has put forward specific recommendations aimed at resolving the protracted Bawku conflict, which he described as a complex challenge requiring bold political leadership.
Speaking in an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5 FM, Mr Ibrahim outlined two options that can be considered.
The first recommendation involves a redemarcation of the Bawku area, with allocations made for each of the feuding factions to control.
“We can allocate the areas to each side to control,” Mr Ibrahim stated. However, he quickly added, “I have gathered that one of the two factions does not want to entertain that idea at all because they want 100 per cent control or nothing.”
The second, and potentially more viable, option is the alternation of the traditional Bawku paramountcy between the two sides.
Explaining the details of this proposal, he said, “We can alternate the chieftaincy of Bawku, where each side will take over for a period of years… This should be documented and made binding.”
Mr Ibrahim acknowledged the difficulty of implementing such a measure.
“These are difficult decisions no president has been bold enough to implement,” he conceded, emphasising that achieving a resolution “will take courage for a president to help achieve.”
Mr Ibrahim stressed that the ultimate responsibility for ensuring peace and security in Bawku rests with the central government.
He called on the government to allocate all necessary resources to address the crisis.
“If we have a president with the political will and courage, we can deal with the Bawku crisis,” he asserted.
Addressing recent mediation efforts, the security analyst commented on the role of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
While praising the Otumfuo’s track record in resolving ethnic conflicts, Mr Ibrahim suggested the Bawku situation was “an overstretch”.
“Otumfuo has the credentials to resolve ethnic issues, but I think this was an overstretch because what he had solved in the past was within an ethnic group, but that of Bawku is between two ethnic groups,” he explained.
He reiterated that the solution lies with the President and political leaders.
“I believe that the President and the politicians have the panacea to this problem… We commend Asantehene for his efforts and that of the President, but I think we have not reached finality of the mediation.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
