A security consultant, Professor Kwesi Aning, has asserted that the country is only ‘pussyfooting’ around the Bawku conflict, hoping that the conflict will resolve itself rather than taking decisive action to address the issue.
Speaking on Joy News’s AM Show on Monday, April 14, 2025, Prof. Aning emphasized that the increasing boldness and the abundant provision of arms for individuals involved in the Bawku Conflict are clear signs that the necessary actions are not taken.
“Right now, I am convinced that we are only pussyfooting, hoping that the crisis will go away by itself, but every single day those who are holding those guns are emboldened, the guns are in abundance, and the bullets are available, and the more they get emboldened, the more things will get out of hand.”
He believes that resolving the Bawku conflict has far-reaching implications, emphasizing that a deeper understanding of the conflict’s complexities and its gradual escalation over time are important areas that require attention; otherwise, resolution will be very difficult.
“We need to better understand the networks and have the will to use the intelligence available to take the necessary actions.”
Professor Aning criticized the notion that the conflict is solely a “Bawku conflict,” arguing that it is, in fact, a “Ghana conflict.” He believes the crisis has transcended local boundaries and now poses a threat to state security. Noting that the perpetrators are not exclusively from Bawku, Professor Aning emphasized the need for a collective national effort to resolve the crisis.
“We are looking at this conflict as a Bawku conflict; this is not a Bawku conflict; this is a Ghana conflict with regional implications or connections and networks.”
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He believes that the bolder they get, the more the power of the state to resist the conflict crumbles. He therefore advised that there is the need to understand the dynamics of what is going on to be able to respond logically as a state for a better resolution of the conflict.
This follows the killing of three individuals, including two police officers, on Sunday, April 13, 2025.
The Bawku conflict is a protracted ethnic and chieftaincy dispute that has led to significant humanitarian consequences, including displacement of people and loss of lives.