Prevention Measures Against Recurrence of Armed Conflict: The Bawku Conflict in Northern Ghana

Abstract

Ghana has a reputation as a peaceful country, nevertheless has experienced pockets of violent ethnic conflicts. The Bawku inter-ethnic conflict between the Kusasi and Mamprusi people has been characterized by recurrence of armed conflict surrounding the chieftaincy. This paper examines the prevention measures initiated in Bawku by stakeholders at different levels, namely, the state agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community representatives as to (i) what kind of prevention measures were implemented, and (ii) which organizations initiated them. The idea of direct and structural prevention measures is applied for analysis. Mediations and security provisions among other measures were initiated by the state agencies to settle farmland issues to avoid court litigations. An early warning system and negotiations were implemented by the NGOs to detect and monitor signs of potential armed clashes. An alert call system was one of many measures initiated by the community representatives to investigate rumors of planned attacks on festivities. State agencies, NGOs, and community representatives as stakeholders have aimed to curb potential armed clashes at an early stage to sustain peace. They envisage further engagements towards resolving the Bawku conflict.