Interior Minister Cletus Avoka says he is optimistic that northern Ghana, especially Bawku, will experience lasting peace in the years ahead. The town has been a hot-spot of violence for years and peace brokered has remained fragile. A recent clash between the two feuding factions, the Kusasis and the Mamprusis, led to the death of two persons while several property was destroyed. The situation forced the president John Evans Atta Mills to dispatch Mr Avoka and the vice-president John Mahama to the area, as emissaries to broker lasting peace between the two factions. Mr Avoka speaking to Joy News on Thursday said discussions between government and the chiefs and people of the area must have chalked some successes. He announced that if the current situation persists, government will consider lifting the one-year curfew imposed, imposed by the Kufuor administration, on the town. The Kusasis celebrated the samanpiid festival but it was incident-free. The festival is celebrated to mark the end of the yam season. Earlier celebrations have been characterised by violent clashes. Mr Avoka lauded the effort of the people at ensuring that peace prevails in the area and warned that government's support in insuring peace will be a mere adjunct to the people's own efforts. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com