PHOTO: Inspector-General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno in a warm handshake with Bawku Naba, Zug-Raan Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, during a courtesy call at the Bawku Palace.
A recent visit by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to the Kusaug traditional area has catalysed a fragile but promising reconciliation effort following tensions sparked by the alleged fatal shooting of a local resident.
The swift intervention by IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, including a rare public and private apology to the overlord of the Kusaug Traditional Area, Zugraan Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, appears to have tempered local anger and renewed a spirit of dialogue between the Ghana Police Service and Kusaug youth.
The apology came in the wake of what community members describe as an “unwarranted killing” of local youth — an incident that triggered outrage across Bawku and surrounding communities, where long-running tensions have at times flared into violence.
In a press release issued by the leadership of the Kusaug Youth Association (KAUSAUG), the group acknowledged the prompt response of the IGP, whose visit to both Zugraan and Kusang just days after the incident signalled, in their words, “a determined effort by the police to prevent a repetition of what happened.”
“Zugraan has accepted the apology,” the statement reads, “and instructed everyone to be calm, forgive, and ask the youth to turn a new page with the police.”
The release, signed by Issah Ibrahim Liman, President of KAUSAUG, and other regional leaders, urges youth to “let go” of past grievances and work constructively with law enforcement to maintain peace in the region.
“By this, we wish to assure the Government of Ghana, the Interior Ministry, the Defence Ministry, and the IGP that Kusaug youth is ready to turn a new page with the police,” the statement added.
Tensions in Bawku and other parts of the Upper East Region have historically been shaped by a complex mix of local chieftaincy disputes, economic hardship, and perceptions of marginalisation. While police and military deployments have sought to maintain order, community trust in security agencies has often been strained — particularly when fatalities occur during enforcement operations.
The IGP’s conciliatory posture, including a symbolic personal apology to the Zugraan, has been interpreted by many as an important departure from previous responses that critics say lacked empathy or cultural understanding.
Observers say the next steps will be crucial. The youth wing’s readiness to re-engage with police authorities could pave the way for joint peacebuilding efforts — but only if accompanied by tangible commitments to accountability and equitable law enforcement.
Civil society groups and security analysts have long argued that restoring durable peace in Bawku and its environs requires not just disarmament or patrols, but consistent and culturally sensitive engagement between state institutions and traditional authorities.
The Kusaug youth leadership’s call for calm and reconciliation marks a notable shift, though the underlying grievances remain unresolved. The challenge now, say analysts, is for both the police and the government to demonstrate that this latest tragedy can become a turning point rather than a cycle repeated.
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