Motor Bikes Banned In Bawku

Posted: Daily Guide |Friday, 09 April 2010

By Charles Takyi-Boadu & Ebo Bruce-Quansah, Bolgatanga
Another death was recorded in Bawku yesterday, as a Moshie man was shot dead around 3:30 pm, in the volatile conflict zone.

No reason has been assigned for the shooting of the deceased, Adam Kayaba Osman alias Willa, but it is suspected to be linked to the recent target killings in the area.

The death of the man, who was gunned down between Misiga and Kulungugu in the Bawku municipality, came on the heels of a riot act read by the government to deal ruthlessly with trouble makers and their collaborators in the area.

Willa, a Moshie from Burkina Faso, was in a truck loaded with cola nuts and onions when he was pulled out and killed. Two others sustained gunshot wounds.

For a start, a ban has been placed on the use of motorbikes in the municipality, after security operatives detected that most of the killers use motorbikes to commit the heinous offence.

The National Security, through the District Information Service, announced a 24-hour ban on the riding of motorbikes, starting from April 9, 2010, until further notice.

This is likely to affect movement as most residents commute on motorbikes.

According to a DAILY GUIDE source, the message, which was passed through the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC), was initially hard for members including the Chairman, Abdulai Musah, to pass to the residents of the area.

This was probably due to the importance of motorbikes to the economy of the area, as well as the movement of the people of the area.

There had been a ban on riding motorbikes in the area, from 6:00pm.

DAILY GUIDE sources said people were seen hooting at the information van while it made the announcement through the township yesterday.

Efforts to talk to the MCE for the area, Abdulai Musah, who is also Chairman of MUSEC, proved futile, since his phone was either switched off or out of coverage area.

However, the Bawku Divisional Police Commander, Chief Supt Christopher Kwaku Boadu-Preprah, confirmed the ban, but could not give reasons for it.

DAILY GUIDE sources in Bawku said the information van had announced that the ban was necessary because motorbikes, being the main means of transport, have mostly been used in the target killings in the area.

From the reaction of the residents during the announcement, there is likely to be an uprising, which the National Security either failed to consider or has the intention of using severe force to implement.

Motorbike is the means of transport for most workers, including teachers, nurses, assembly staff, as well as traders and many others in the area, hence the ban is anticipated to bring the municipality to a standstill.

The ban covers all persons in the area, including the police, military, Assembly staff and other security personnel.

At a press conference in Accra yesterday, government vowed to deal ruthlessly with any individuals or group of persons who are found culpable in fueling the Bawku conflict.

It has indicated its preparedness to arrest and subsequently prosecute leaders and sponsors who incite violence in the area, saying with emphasis that “there will be no mercy.”

Information Minister, John Akologu Tia, told journalists that “there are sponsors of this conflict who sit in Accra and engage in shameless acts that exacerbate the situation”.

He therefore tendered in evidence a T-shirt with the inscription ‘original chiefs of Bawku’ which according to him, was printed in Accra and sent to Bawku to ostensibly provoke the anger of one of the feuding factions.

The Minister noted that these sponsors, who, instead of offering leadership in peace and mediation, have rather chosen the path of perdition and incitement, emphasizing that “we want them to know their hands are dripping with blood”.

Mr Tia gave his word that the security agencies are in the process of not only rounding up all these elements but “we want to make it clear that there will be no mercy for such persons” since according to him, “the inherent situation in Bawku is of much concern to government”.