The Acting Inspector General of Police, COP John Kudalor has reiterated the police administration’s commitment to ensure peace in the northern region town of Bunkpurugu and its environs . COP Kudalor told both the Jafouk and the Jamong families that the police can only enforce peace but cannot guarantee sustainable peace in the area.
COP Kudalor who visited the town together with the top echelon of security in Ghana reminded the people that there can only be meaningful development in an atmosphere of peace and charged the opinion leaders to show interest and champion the course in ensuring lasting peace in Bunkpurugu.
COP Kudalor was accompanied by the deputy national security soordinator, Alhaji Osman Salifu, Chenekpowura , director general in-charge of operations, COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, Chief of Army Staff-Major General Kwame Opoku Adusei, head of formed Unit-Superintendent Hamzad Yakubu, the northern regional police commander-DCOP Ken Yaboah and his deputy commander ACP, Akrofi Ayirifi.
The IGP’s visit follows the burning of 35 houses and the lost of three lives in a renewed ethnic chieftaincy dispute between the Jamong and the Jafouk families in the area.
‘We as police men and soldiers can come here with all our armaments to restore peace and order, but everlasting peace, tranquility and coexistence must come from the inhabitants’ the COP told both feuding factions at separate locations in Bunkpurugu.
COP Kudalor said the police and soldiers cannot be in Bunkpurugu forever. He explained that when there is fear and panic you cannot go to your farm and teaching and learning will come to a halt and that the continued clashes in Bunkpurugu are depriving other areas of security.
“We as security forces can play our part but all stakeholders, the chief and other stakeholders must work hard to support the security peace mission,” adding that resources used to keep security in the area could have been used to develop Bunkpurugu.
The Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), Major General Richard Kwame Opoku Adusei made a passionate appeal to people to embrace peace as the country prepares for the general elections.
‘This year is election year and the army is looking forward to ensuring peace throughout the country to enable our government conduct a successful election successful,” Major Adusei said.
According to the CDS, it is President John Dramani Mahama’s belief that the chief of Bunkpurugu can make peace
He told the Bunkpurugu people that this is not the time to waste resources that could other wise be channeled to keeping peace during the elections and urged the people to cooperate with the district chief executive of area who is also the chairman of the district security committee.
He assured that the Ghana army and other security forces are ready to support peace efforts in the area but in trying to chart peace they will be firm and encouraged the people to take the bull by the horn.
