Anthony Acquaye, a Security and Policy Expert at the Centre for Security Dialogue and Peace Advocacy, has identified the illegal building and selling of arms and weapons as the main cause of the renewed Bawku conflict.
In an interview at Accra-based radio Hot FM, he revealed that the Ghana National Small Arms and Large Weapons Commission has registered over 1.2 million unregistered small and large weapons circulating freely within the country.
According to Acquaye, these arms are being manufactured by local gunsmiths in various parts of the country, such as Kasoa, Ashaiman, Suhum, Kumasi Suame Magazine, and some areas in the Eastern Region.
These weapons are then sold to individuals within the Bawku communities, contributing to the conflict in the region.
He called on the government to regulate the illegal arms trade and take decisive action to address the root cause of the Bawku conflict. Acquaye also criticized the government for not effectively implementing measures to stop the conflict, accusing it of politicizing the issue.
He highlighted the affiliation of some tribal groups to particular political parties, leading to harm and intimidation when a group’s political party is in power.
Acquaye urged the government to stop politicizing the Bawku conflict and take concrete measures to resolve the issue.
