Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has expressed optimism for lasting peace and harmony to be achieved between feuding factions of the Bawku conflict.

The Upper East Regional town has been destabilised by chieftaincy dispute between Mamprusis and Kusasis, leaving many dead and unsettled and economic activity affected.

During a visit to Bawku on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, to call on the Bawkunaba, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, Vice President Bawumia expressed concern over the situation and called for a truce and a peaceful co-existence amongst the two, which he described as "one people."

"As a son of the North, I am very pained by the conflict that we have in Bawku between Kusasis and Mamprusis over Chieftaincy," Dr. Bawumia said.

"This conflict has led to needless loss of lives and disrupted economic activity and development in Bawku. It is really sad. Fundamentally, we are really one people. We have intermarried over the years and our languages are very similar."

"I believe with every bone in my body that it is possible to have peace and harmony between Kusasis and Mamprusis in Bawku and I will work towards that. We have to work towards it. It is possible!"

Stressing the need for peace and unity, Dr. Bawumia said without these, there cannot be development and the youth, in particular, will be disadvantaged.

"The problem our people face is poverty and underdevelopment. As president, Insha Allah, I will contribute immensely to uplifting our people from poverty and underdevelopment. We cannot, however, be successful in our quest to eradicate poverty and bring development to our people in an atmosphere of conflict. We need peace for development."

"Our youth need jobs, we need education, we need healthcare, we need roads. We should be fighting for the needs of our youth and not fight with each other," Dr. Bawumia said.

The Vice President seized the opportunity to list a number of development projects undertaken by the NPP in the area, including the Bolga-Bawku road, and Agenda 111 district hospitals being constructed in Grau, Tempane and Pusiga.

"These are the issues that matter for our people and these are the issues I will be focusing on as well."

Dr. Bawumia was accompanied by a powerful government delegation including Interior Minister Ambrose Dery, Chieftaincy, Religion and Culture Minister Steven Asamoah Boateng National Chairman of NPP Steven Ayesu Ntim and several MPs from the northern part of the country.