Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga calls for urgent end to the Bawku conflict
In a press statement, Most Reverend Alfred Agyenta, Bishop of the Diocese, welcomed recent signs of consensus among feuding parties and acknowledged the ongoing mediation efforts spearheaded by the Government and the Asantehene-led team.
The Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga has strongly appealed to the government, traditional authorities, security agencies, and all peace-building stakeholders to take urgent and coordinated action to end the persistent violent resurgence in Bawku and surrounding areas.
In a press statement, Most Reverend Alfred Agyenta, Bishop of the Diocese, welcomed recent signs of consensus among feuding parties and acknowledged the ongoing mediation efforts spearheaded by the Government and the Asantehene-led team.
The statement, however, stressss that these developments, while encouraging, are not enough. The Diocese said urgent and drastic measures with coordinated efforts and sustained action are required to restore calm and enable long-term development in the region.
For years, the conflict has disrupted social services and diverted critical resources meant for infrastructure and development into maintaining security operations.
The Diocese expressed grave concern about the widening development gap and the toll the conflict continues to exact on residents, especially vulnerable populations, including school children and healthcare seekers.
The Diocese, therefore, called on the government to take decisive and comprehensive measures to restore peace and ensure a conducive environment in the conflict-affected areas. It urged security agencies to maintain the highest standards of professionalism in protecting lives and property.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has also been asked to respond swiftly to early warning signs from schools and to build the capacity of key staff to manage conflict-sensitive situations. The Diocese further emphasized the importance of providing psychosocial support for public service workers operating in the conflict zones.
The Diocese also called on traditional authorities to play their restorative role in resolving the conflict through peaceful and constructive dialogue, while civil society and peace actors have been urged to unite their efforts in promoting social cohesion, peaceful coexistence, and lasting security in the region.
The National Peace Council, the statement said, must create a conducive environment for trust-building and open engagement among the feuding factions, while religious leaders are also encouraged to continue offering spiritual support through prayer and advocacy for peace across the region and the country.
The Diocese further appealed directly to the feuding factions to commit to non-violent conflict resolution and to fully support the Asantehene-led mediation process.
Reiterating its stance, the Diocese declared that “war and violence are always a defeat and have never provided any lasting solution for peace.”
As a longstanding development partner in the region, the Catholic Church reaffirmed its commitment to supporting affected communities through the provision of health care, education, livelihoods, and peacebuilding initiatives.
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