Police in Bawku in the Upper East region have told Citi News only two people have so far surrendered their weapons to the security agencies in exchange for cash.
[contextly_sidebar id=”guxzEwkkdoDCmqykgBa01oWRAPm4RgGf”]Government asked residents in the area to submit their guns to the Police in a bid to rid the town of illegal arms being used to perpetrate killings in the Mamprusi-Kusasi chieftaincy conflict.
Weeks after the announcement, the Bawku Police Commander Chief Superintendent Lovelace Tefutor said the residents were not enthused about the deal.
“People are not willing to give information as to where the weapons are but some people have handed over the weapons to the Police voluntarily and we have awarded them,” he said.
He further stated that plans are underway to convince the other residents to hand over their guns to them.
Residents in Bawku have been living in fear after a series of shooting incidents.
Recent clashes that hit the area last month claimed about three lives.
Though security has been intensified in the area, the Police are asking residents to submit their guns to forestall further clashes and promote sanity in the area.
In August, two people were shot dead while two others were injured in a conflict that hit Patheleme, a suburb of Bawku.
Narrating the incident to Citi News, the Divisional Police Commander of Bawku, Chief Superintendent Tefutor Kaletsi said at around 8pm on Monday night, two people went to the town, entered the house of one Alhassan Salifu and shot at a group of people who were sitting in front of the house.
He said the landlord, Alhassan and his wife, Yawa Alhassan sustained gunshot wounds while the other victims both died on the spot after being shot by the gang.
He however said that the issue was not linked to the protracted conflict in Bawku, adding that no one had been arrested so far.
In June, the Ministry of Interior said it will consider lifting the ban on motor riding in Bawku only if the District and Regional Security Council (DISEC and REGSEC) petition the Ministry.
There have been several appeals by residents for the ban to be lifted. The Paramount Chief of the Bawku traditional area has also made an appeal for the ban to be partially lifted.
The ban on motorbike riding was imposed five years ago, to among other things, forestall the escalating ride-by shootings by unidentified persons.
Deputy Minister for Interior, James Agalga in an earlier interview with Citi News stated that the Ministry appreciates the concerns of the residents but added that the ban was imposed based on the advice of “the DISEC and REGSEC.”
By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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