Walewale curfew revised

The Ministry for the Interior has reviewed the curfew hours imposed on Walewale and its environs.

The curfew hours, previously set from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., have been revised to 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., effective Monday, March 10, 2025.

The decision follows advice from the North East Regional Security Council, which said there had been a positive security development in the area.

A statement announcing the reviewed curfew said there had been no attack in the enclave since the dawn-to-dusk curfew was imposed, allowing travellers to journey safely along the troubled Bolgatanga-Tamale highway.

The Interior Ministry, however, admonished the youth, chiefs and traditional rulers in the area to channel their grievances through civil means to the right authorities rather than engaging in violence.

Incidents

There has been recurring chieftaincy dispute in Bawku and its environs, characterised by violent clashes that have claimed hundreds of lives over the years, while property running into millions of Ghana cedis has been lost to the violence.

Historians say the dispute is over the rightful ownership of the Bawku skin, referred to as na'am.

In recent times, the incident has resulted in reprisal attacks on passengers along the Tamale-Walewale-Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom highway. This has heightened insecurity along the stretch and affected socio-economic activities.

Many people have lost their lives, while others have sustained life-threatening injuries. Also, many vehicles have been burnt as a result of the incident.

The attacks are said to be in connection with the ongoing Bawku conflict.

On several occasions, the military personnel, in responding to attacks on the vehicles, reportedly brutalised the residents.

For instance, on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, some military personnel reportedly stormed homes, shops and streets to assault individuals indiscriminately, leaving several injured and the entire community in shock.

The soldiers are said to have reportedly misconstrued a burning truck in the town as an incident of arson in relation to the conflict in Bawku and, therefore, stormed the Walewale township and unleashed mayhem on any resident they came across.

Similarly, on Friday, February 14 and Saturday, February 15, 2025, some military and police allegedly brutalised some residents, resulting in the death of two persons and injury to many others.

About 13 people, including an infant, were killed, and three buses were burnt to ashes in the area in February 2025. However, since the imposition of the curfew, no life has been lost.