Residents of the Upper East Region have called on President John Dramani Mahama to urgently take measure to bring lasting peace to Bawku and its environs to enhance accelerated development.

According to them, the protracted chieftaincy conflict which had lasted for decades was not only affecting the people of Bawku, but the entire Upper East Region and it was time permanent peace was achieved to bring relief to the people, especially the vulnerable.

The residents made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga as part of their expectations ahead of the President’s visit to the region later on Thursday.

The visit formed part of the President’s nationwide “Thank You” tour following his electoral victory in December 2024.

President Mahama would address the chiefs and people of the region at a durbar in Bolgatanga to express his gratitude to the people and reiterate his government’s commitment to addressing the economic challenges of the country.

The President would also use that as opportunity to assure the residents of the region of his resolve to ensuring that the region benefitted from the national cake and outline specific policy solutions to specific issues in the region.

The residents are expecting that President Mahama will prioritise security in the region particularly the resolution of the Bawku conflict as part of the key interventions of his administration to ensure that lasting peace was achieved and development enhanced.

Mr. Frederic Ayine, a resident told the GNA that the Bawku conflict had untold effects on the people in the region, making people outside the region view the region as a conflict zone, thereby scaring away investors and development-oriented people.

“Bawku used to be a business town but it has now been turned into a ghost town because people trade along the border countries including Togo and Burkina Faso, so we want the President to crack the whip devoid of political stance”, he said.

Madam Mariama Musah, a resident of Bawku indicated that apart from the Bawku conflict drawing region backwards in terms of development, the women and children were the most affected and called for urgent steps to restore peace.

She said women were unable to move about to do their trading activities, access healthcare especially for the pregnant women while their children could not access education due to the conflict and it was deepening the cycle among residents.

Apart security, the residents also expect the President to make a firm commitment to the construction of the airport, completion of the passport office and improvement of state of roads and road network in the area.

President Mahama, upon assumption of office visited the Zugraan Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, Paramount Chief of Kusaug Traditional Area in Bawku and Nayiri Naa Bohagu Abdulai Mahami Sheriga, Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area in Nalerigu in the North East Region as part of efforts to resolve the conflict.

The President has also engaged heads of the various security services and some eminent traditional leaders to draw a roadmap to permanently resolve the old-aged conflict.