The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, under the guidance of President John Dramani Mahama, will restart his peace mission in Bawku during the upcoming week, which brings optimism to residents of the conflict zone.
During his address at the Ghana Military Academy graduation ceremony on April 11, President Mahama disclosed that the Asantehene gave him a promise to restart peace dialogues after he returned from his brief overseas journey.
The Otumfuo mediation process has started under the leadership of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II by bringing together all stakeholders for peace discussions in Kumasi. The Asantehene promised me that negotiations will start shortly, according to President Mahama.
He requested every Bawku conflict faction to return to peaceful dialogue, as violent approaches would bring no advantages to anyone.
The recent marketplace violence in Bawku led to fatalities while damaging properties during a period when the president made his remarks. The situation of conflict and insecurity produces no advantages for anyone, according to his statement.
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The Ghana Armed Forces received high praise from President Mahama because of their commitment to securing stability in the dangerous region. President Mahama expressed his gratitude to the military forces for their dangerous service to safeguard both property and lives in Bawku by saying, “Congratulations to our Armed Forces for the sacrifices, even at the peril of your lives.”
The president provided details about security expansion, which involved building operational capabilities for the Armed Forces. He stated that the Ghana Armed Forces would receive improved training and modern equipment together with quick response capabilities for emergencies.
Moreover, President Mahama declared support for objective promotions while making a promise to enhance military housing standards. Every promotion in the military will be performance-driven without being influenced by personal relationships. He also stated that his administration will construct new residences while repairing the abandoned ones.
The president emphasized that Ghana surpassed United Nations goals by having more than 23% female soldiers participate in peacekeeping operations.
As a matter of fact, Mahama requested that serious allegations regarding drug trafficking and money laundering on international flights should not be politicized. At the end of his address he stated that his government would focus on criminal investigations and avoid pointless political distractions.
