The national coordinator of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) has condemned the conflict situation in Bawku in the Upper East Region.

In an interview with JoyNews, Albert Yelyang, said “Bawku is becoming a zone that if you want to describe it, it is becoming militarised in a way.”

This, he explained, is due to the sporadic gun shots in the area. 

“There are targeted attacks on the field, farms, roads, around the houses and some of the times, if there are gun firings on one location, the following day or almost the same day, you would hear gun fires on another side. So it is like many people are armed in a way.”

Mr Yelyang’s assertion comes after three truck drivers transporting pepper and tomato from the Bawku Municipality to Accra were reportedly shot dead.

Several others have sustained injuries after unknown gunmen opened fire on the cargo trucks at a spot 20 kilometers from the conflict-ridden town.

Mr Yelyang noted that the situation could get worse if not handled well.

“There have been a number of incidents that have occurred in terms of death. These probably have not been picked by the mandated institutions for instance the Police, hospitals etc, so a lot is happening in Bawku that requires collaboration,” he said.

According to him, there is a need to dig deeper to determine if there are criminal elements on the ground and persons behind their activities.

Also, a Conflict and Security Analyst Col. Rtd. Festus Aboagye wants immediate dialogue set up to address the root cause of the conflict.

According to him, the timing of the Bawku conflict is worrying. This, he explained is because it is nearer to the electioneering campaign period.

“If this conflict goes on and on, one day, there is going to be a declaration that in light of the conflict, election will not take place in a certain part of this country,” he stressed.