Bawku is a town and is the capital of the Bawku Municipal District, district in the Upper East region of north Ghana, adjacent to the border with Burkina Faso.[2][3][4] It is located approximately between latitudes 11o 111 and 100 401 North and longitude 0o 181w and 0o 61 E in the north-eastern corner of the region. The municipality has a total land area of about 257 km2.[5] The Municipality was established by Legislative Instrument (L.I) 2103.[5] The municipality has a total land area of about 257 km2.[5] Bawku has a 2021 settlement population of 119,458 people.[1][6] Hon. Ayariga Mahama is the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central Constituency.[7]
Bawku | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Bawku Location of Bawku in Upper East region | |
| Coordinates: 11°3′36″N 0°14′24″W / 11.06000°N 0.24000°W | |
| Country | Ghana |
| Region | Upper East Region |
| District | Bawku Municipal District |
| Population (2012) | |
• Total | 69,527[1] |
| Time zone | GMT |
| • Summer (DST) | GMT |
Cultural and tourist sites
editNaa Gbewaa Shrine
editThe "tomb" of, Naa Gbewaa, the founder of the Mamprusi, Dagomba, and Nanumba tribes, is located just a few kilometers from Bawku in Pusiga in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Legend states that Naa Gbewaa never died but simply vanished into the ground. The shrine was thought to have been built in the 14th century in commemoration of Naa Gbewaa, and is today a place of spiritual reverence.[8]
Bawku Chieftaincy Conflict
editThe Bawku conflict dates back to 1957. Recently, the illegal enskinment of Mr. Seidu Abagre as Bawku Naba in 2023 by the Nayire of Nalerigu[9] resulted in a disagreement which resulted in a conflict.[10] He has subsequently been exiled since his enskinment.
On 22 October 2024, the Ministry of Interior in Ghana imposed a curfew from 10pm to 4am each in Bawku Municipality due to rising tensions from a chieftaincy dispute.[11] There was a total ban on all persons in the afore-mentioned communities and their environs from carrying arms, ammunition or any offensive weapons. Another curfew was imposed on 28 October 2024 until further notice.[12][13][14]
2024
editOn 28 October 2024, an attack on the Bolgatanga-Tamale highway near Gbimsi, close to Walewale in northern Ghana, led to the deaths of eight travelers.[15] Armed assailants had reportedly set up roadblocks in both Gbimsi and Walewale town, stopping vehicles to question passengers.[16] Eyewitnesses stated that the attack lasted over an hour, during which two vehicles were set on fire. The incident raised security concerns in the region, with reports indicating a possible link to the ongoing Bawku chieftancy conflict, which had recently resurfaced after a period of calm.[17][18]
On November 3, 2024, Hassan Ayariga, the Presidential Candidate of the All People’s Congress (APC), expressed concerns about the escalating Bawku conflict, which has resulted in over 21 deaths and threatens the 2024 elections.[19][20] He urged the government to take swift action and called on community leaders to advocate for peace. The violence, intensified by the return of a rival chief, has led to school and business closures.[21][22]
On 15 November, 3 people died as a results of rising tensions surrounding the Bawku conflict.[23]
References
edit- ^ a b "World Gazetteer online". World-gazetteer.com. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012.
- ^ Bawku Municipal District Archived June 14, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Upper East Region". List of All MMDAs in Ghana. A Public - Private Partnership Programme between Min. of Local Govt., Rural Dev. & Environment & Maks Publications & Media Services. 2006. Archived from the original on 5 August 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
- ^ "4 dead in renewed Bawku chieftaincy violence - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "Ghana Districts: A repository of all Local Assemblies in Ghana". ghanadistricts.com. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ "Ghana Districts: A repository of all Local Assemblies in Ghana". www.ghanadistricts.com. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Parliament of Ghana". www.parliament.gh. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "Upper East Region Attractions - Ghana Tourism Homepage". Touringghana.com. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ^ "Illegal installation of new Bawku Naba: Tension mounts in Nalerigu • Attempt to arrest, Mamprugu overlord, kingmakers foiled • Youth go on rampage, destroy property". Ghanaian Times. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "Mamprugu Youth Resist Arrest of Nayiri, Newly Enskinned Bawku Chief". DailyGuide Network. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "Imposition of Curfew on Bawku Municipality and Its Environs in the Upper East Region". Ministry of the Interior - Republic of Ghana. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "Govt imposes curfew on Bawku after deadly clashes". 28 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "Curfew imposed on Bawku amid rising tensions, loss of lives". MyJoyOnline. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "Interior Ministry imposes 6:00pm to 6:00am curfew on Bawku". 3 FM News. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "8 dead in Bawku conflict as gunmen block Bolgatanga-Tamale Highway - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ theafricareport (4 November 2024). "Ghana: Deadly violence in Bawku shuts down life in border town".
- ^ "Bawku Conflict Claims Two More Lives". DailyGuide Network. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ GTonline (5 November 2024). "Bawku chieftaincy conflict:6 more killed, death toll rises to 30". Ghanaian Times. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ "Swiftly address escalating Bawku conflict - Hassan Ayariga to govt". 3 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ modernghana (3 November 2024). "The Bawku Chieftaincy Dispute: Historical Legitimacy, Political Interference, and the Role of Media".
- ^ "ADB temporarily closes Bawku branch amid rising security concerns - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 2 November 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ Ghanaweb (4 November 2024). "Bawku Conflict: My bodyguard was burnt to ashes - Hassan Ayariga discloses".
- ^ "3 more persons die as a result of Bawku conflict". 15 November 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.