Scores of Bawku youth on Wednesday besieged Parliament demanding an end to what they call wanton persecutions by the security agencies in Bawku. The Youth, predominantly from the Mamprusi ethnic group in Bawku accused the military and police personnel of arbitrary arrest. The Bawku Municipality has over the years made all the headlines for all the wrong reasons after protracted violent clashes between the Mamprusis and the Kusasis with the recent surge of violence recorded early this year. Even though the Municipality is relatively calm, security is high on the alert to prevent a relapse. The youth say the military has been high-handed and discriminatory in their modus-operandi. Having escaped arrests in Bawku, the youth reportedly ambushed the MP for Bawku Central, Adamu Dramani at the Parliamentary car park on Wednesday seeking his assistance to end the tale of what they said is an unusual arrest. They are demanding an end to the conflict before they will return home. Narrating their ordeal to Joy FM’s parliamentary correspondent Araba Coomson, Stephen Bugri said they are usually arrested only on basis of suspicions and are kept in prison because they are unable to pay the GH ¢100.00 bail. “No matter how young you are you arrested, school children, JSS children are all arrested,” he lamented, adding “the interesting thing is that the arrest is only one-sided.” In all over 100 people have been arrested by the security, he charged. But the Interior Minister, Cletus Avoka insists the security have been fair in their dealings in the community. He could not however verify the claims made by the Mamprusi youth saying, he was not present in the Municipality but was convinced the security did a professional job. “The arrests, if any at all have been made are made are on people suspected to have committed crimes,” he added. He however assured his ministry would investigate the allegations made by the youth. Cletus Avoka advised the outraged youth to channel their grievances through the Inter Ethnic Peace Committee in Bawku as well as District and Regional Security Councils in the region rather than running to Accra for cover. The ambushed MP Adamu Dramani said he is in talks with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to provide alternative places for the aggrieved youth to live until an amicable solution is found. Listen to excerpts of the interview with the Interior Minister in the attached audio. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com