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Members of the Bawku Inter-Ethnic Peace Committee, have renewed they are resolute to sustain peace in the area ahead of the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.
 
The two major tribes, the Kusaasis and Mamprusis, who were hitherto, rivals by virtue of the protracted chieftaincy disputes, have reassured Ghanaians of their commitment to ensuring violence-free elections, promising they are ready to support the security to punish anybody who attempted doing something untoward in the area in the run-up to the elections.
 
Bawku is always tensed up during general elections as some war mongers and violent extremists wipe for war in such times in the name of chieftaincy disputes.
 
But, this year may disappoint the pessimists as the two major tribes, have pursued all plans and strategies to collaborate with the security to nip prospective violent people in the Bad.
Addressing a mammoth crowd at a forum organised by Belimwusa Development Agency, BEWDA, a local Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO in Bawku of the Upper East Region, Thomas Abilla, a Spokesperson to the Paramount Chief of Bawku, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka, recounted his ordeals in the aftermath of the prolonged Bawku conflicts, and said a replica of that would cause the area to sink in its development prospects.
 
He, however, expressed optimism the Inter-Ethnic Peace Committee would continue to work diligently to maintain peace in the Bawku community and its environs.
 
He said, since the establishment of the committee in 2009, not even "a knife wound" had been inflicted on somebody because of violence and appealed to all stakeholders, including assemblymen and women, members of the political divide and the youth to rise up vigorously to maintain the status quo in the build-up to the December 7 polls, adding he was envisaging a spectacular and relentless fight against disputes during the elections.
 
He ascribed the successful restoration of Peace in the area by the committee to the unrelenting support from the National Peace Council and the Upper East Members of Parliament, MPs caucus.
 
He acknowledged their financial support rendered to the committee to discharge its anti-violence advocacy and appealed to other philanthropic individuals and organisations to also come to its aid to work towards ensuring everlasting peace in the area.
 
Mr. Abilla further added the conflicts contributed largely in reversing the development fortunes of Bawku, saying " we are recovering from the conflicts that befell us. It really hurt us so much. So, we ought to collectively curse the conflicts so it will not recur to worsen our plight".
 
A private legal practitioner, Mohammed Tahiru Nambe, who is a member of the Inter-Ethnic Peace Committee, expressed overwrought over the dominance of Bawku in the flash points in the country.
 
He said it was evident the conduct of the people in the area was blameworthy, adding " we all have to work collectively to redeem the image of Bawku". Because of our violent acts in the past, the community is topping the list of flash points in the country".
 
The legal luminary amplified his call for peaceful elections and charged the youth to augment the efforts of the security in ensuring peace in the country by exposing people with diabolical mindset to foment troubles in the area on elections day.