Former president Jerry John Rawlings says president John Mahama risks losing his northern pride if he fails to to find justice for some of the aggrieved people in Dagbon, Bawku and other conflict prone areas in the north where wanton killings and destruction of properties have taken place in the past.

He called on the president to reinvestigate the 2002 Bawku killings and that of the late overlord of Dagbon, Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II as well as the death of the late northern regional Chairman of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) Alhaji Issah Mobila.

Speaking over the weekend at Kusaug in the Upper West Region to mark the celebration of 2013 Samanpiid festival, Mr. Rawlings also advised leaders from both sides of the chieftaincy divide in Bawku to lead the crusade for unity and reconciliation.

In his address, the Regional Minister, Alhaji Lumuna Mohammed Muniru admonished residents of Bawku to zealously safeguard the relative peace they have enjoyed so far.

He reassured residents of Bawku that President Mahama will not renege his pledge to develop the area to regain its lost glory as once vibrant economic hub of Ghana.

The 2013 Samanpiid festival which as usual was meant to thank God for bumper harvest was under the theme, “Sustaining the peace and cultural reforms in Kusaug.”

There was display of rich cultural entertainment interspersed with exchange of good-natured remarks from the celebrants.