By: Francis Abedi
The Ashanti Regional Peace Council has convened leaders from Mamprusi and Kusasi women’s groups in Kumasi to discuss strategies for restoring peace related to the Bawku conflict. This effort aims to prevent the conflict from spreading to the Ashanti Region and involves bringing together influential women to build harmony.
The initiative was designed to bring together leaders of women’s groups from both communities to find practical steps towards restoring harmony and preventing the Bawku conflict from escalating in the Ashanti Region. The meeting included leaders from Mamprusi and Kusasi women’s groups in Kumasi. It seeks to utilise the influence of women in peacebuilding to prevent the long-standing ethnic tensions from spilling over into Kumasi, where members of both communities reside.
The engagement was a follow-up to an earlier dialogue between the leadership of the two ethnic groups in the Ashanti Region that ended in the signing of a memorandum of understanding to prevent revenge attacks and promote peaceful coexistence.
The Executive Secretary of the Ashanti Regional Peace Council, Reverend Dr Emmanuel Badu Amoah, explained that the idea of bringing together the Mamprusi and Kusasi women into the peace process was to demonstrate how powerful they are as custodians of the home whose voices carry traditional values.
“We brought together the women from the two ethnic groups because they are those that keep the homes running, and they carry powerful voices when they speak. Hence, we wanted to let them also share their thoughts on how we can maintain peace among the two groups,” he stated.
Both the Queen Mothers of Mamprusi and Kusasi in the Ashanti Region, Amina Bawa and Azumi Mamuda, shared their views about how the conflict and tensions in Bawku are affecting families of indigenes.
“I personally feel very sad about what is going on because I have the blood of these two groups running through me. My father is from Mamprusi, and my mother is also from Kusasi. In fact, most of us are even intermarried, and it hurts me so much, which is why I pray it ends soon so we can live together as one family,” Queen Mother of Kusasi, Azumi Mamuda, indicated.
“Some of us really miss home and wish we could go back to visit our families, but with what is happening, we find it difficult to go home. It really hurts,” Queen Mother of Mamprusi, Amina Bawa, noted.
A former Chairman of the National Peace Council, Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, commended the women for their resolve to participate in the peace process leading to lasting peace in Bawku.
“I must say that I am really very happy for both of you for understanding the real value of peaceful coexistence and how you have vowed to help bring everlasting peace to Bawku,” he emphasised.
Otumfuo Sumankwahene, Baffour Asabre Ababio Kogyawoasu, advised the two ethnic groups to protect the peace.
“Peace is very expensive, and I must say that whatever is happening in Bawku is also affecting us here. We have to do all we can to restore peace in Bawku, so please let’s try and settle this so we can continue to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere among us as Ghanaians,” he urged.
The meeting was marked by moments of deep emotion as participants shared their pain, separation, and longing for home.
