13 arrested for Bawku violence to be arraigned today
They were arrested on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, after a renewed chieftaincy clash led to the loss of lives and property.
13 persons who were arrested and detained for their involvement in chieftaincy disturbances in Bawku will be put before a court today, January 4, to answer to charges.
They were arrested on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, after a renewed chieftaincy clash led to the loss of lives and property.
According to reports, the Mamprusi chieftaincy faction attempted to perform the final funeral rites for a chief who died about 41 years ago despite a court injunction, stopping the planned activity.
Following their arrest, a group calling itself Bawku Mamprugu Youth Association raised callings, describing the detention of the arrested persons as a violation of human rights.
“We would want to make it clear to the government or the state that our kinsmen are being treated like animals who have been caged without any rights,” they said in a statement.
“Our kinsmen numbering 11 men and a woman had been arrested and sent to Accra and locked up at various police cells. Our lawyers have done all that is legally possible for the police at the CID division of the police headquarter to release the suspects on bail either on police inquiry or before a court of competent jurisdiction as constitutionally required in respect of their fundamental human rights.”
The discussions of insecurity in Bawku follows the issuance of an Executive Instrument (EI) to place a curfew on Bawku amid renewed chieftaincy clashes in the area on Monday, December 27, 2021.
The government has asked feuding factions in Bawku to allow cool heads to prevail and resort to dialogue in order to bring calm in the area.
The government also indicated in a statement that the matter of the Paramount Chief in Bawku has been settled by the Supreme Court in April 2003.
Therefore claims that Bawku does not have an overlord and attempts to install a new Bawku Naa run contrary to the already determined position by the Supreme Court.
“It is our expectation that all parties will abide by the decision of the Supreme Court and let peace prevail in Bawku. Government is resolved to ensure that persons holding offices legitimately are inhibited from performing their roles and functions,” a statement from the government stated.