The Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga has issued a strong appeal to the government, traditional authorities, and security agencies to take urgent, coordinated action to end the ongoing conflict in Bawku and its surrounding areas.
In a press statement, Most Reverend Alfred Agyenta, the Bishop of the Diocese, acknowledged recent signs of consensus and welcomed the mediation efforts led by the government and the Asantehene-led team. However, the statement emphasized that while these developments are encouraging, they are not enough. The Diocese stressed that drastic, coordinated, and sustained efforts are needed to restore calm and enable long-term development in the region.
The Diocese expressed grave concern about how the conflict has disrupted social services, widened the development gap, and placed a heavy toll on residents. It specifically highlighted the impact on vulnerable populations, including schoolchildren and those seeking healthcare.
To address the situation, the Diocese has called on the government to take decisive action to restore peace, urging security agencies to uphold the highest standards of professionalism in protecting lives and property. It also asked the Ghana Education Service (GES) to respond swiftly to early warning signs in schools and to provide psychosocial support for public service workers.
Additionally, the statement urged traditional authorities to engage in constructive dialogue, while civil society and other peace-building organizations were encouraged to unite their efforts. The National Peace Council was called upon to create an environment of trust and open engagement among the feuding factions. Religious leaders were also asked to continue offering spiritual support through prayer and advocacy for peace.
The Diocese also appealed directly to the feuding parties to commit to non-violent conflict resolution and to fully support the Asantehene-led mediation process. Reiterating its core belief, the statement declared that “war and violence are always a defeat and have never provided any lasting solution for peace.”
Finally, as a longstanding development partner, the Catholic Church reaffirmed its commitment to supporting affected communities through its health, education, and livelihood initiatives.