Water Shortage Hits Bawku Amidst Renewed Clashes.

Residents of Bawku in the Upper East Region are in dire need of water as staff of the Ghana Water Company LTD flee for their lives.

This development follows the recently renewed classhes which is purported to caused by the return of one Zumachi Yidana whose Chieftaincy legitimacy was challenged by the Court and has since been outside the town for sometime now. His decision to return to Bawku few days ago is said to be the cause of this renewed classhes.

Water the say is life and the absence of it poses danger to human life, the current situation in Bawku can said to be a threat to the lives of the people living in the area. Staff of the Ghana Water Company have abandoned the area as they flee for fear of loosing their lives in the recent clashes.

Residents are now living in double agony crying for their lives in the ongoing conflict as well as the dry taps.

The ongoing clashes are primarily due to a long-standing chieftaincy dispute between the Kusasi and Mamprusi ethnic groups. This conflict has been ongoing for decades, with tensions escalating in recent years. The latest escalation began around October 24, 2024, resulting in approximately 20 deaths

The root cause of the conflict is believed to be the dispute over who qualifies to occupy the position of the paramount chief, known as the Bawku Naba. The Mamprusi and Kusasi ethnic groups have been contesting this position for years, leading to violent clashes and displacement of people.

Unidentified assailants opened fire on a vehicle, killing eight people near Gbimsi in the North East Region on October 27, 2024 coupled with series of killings which.has amounted to about 20 deaths.

It is in view of this tention that staff of the Ghana Water Company LTD decided to vacate the community for their safety leaving the residents to battle for water.

Meanwhile a security curfew has been amended to 18:00-06:00 to maintain order in the area.

Speaking on Ghana Tonight on TV3, Dr. Victor Doke: a security analyst states that the water shortage which is caused by the departure of the staff of GWC LTD is a life threatening.

He went further to say that “curfews do not resolve conflicts” and so government should find better ways to resolve the conflict.