Sustained peace will restore Bawku to its former glory – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama expressed optimism that Bawku could once again thrive as a prominent commercial center if the ongoing peace persists in the region. During a citizen engagement in Bolgatanga, as part of his Resetting Ghana Agenda tour of the Upper East Region, the President highlighted that the cessation of violence and return of relative stability had opened the door for residents and businesses who fled due to the conflict to return and rebuild.

The President praised the traditional leaders and people of Bawku for their role in achieving the current peace, noting that the town was now "finally calm" and residents were reestablishing normal activities. He confidently stated that sustained peace would enable Bawku to regain its former glory as a major commercial hub in Ghana.

The President pointed out that the prolonged conflict had severely disrupted essential services, forcing teachers, health professionals, and other workers to abandon the area. He emphasized that the government's inability to deploy national service personnel or medical doctors to Bawku in the previous year due to the fighting demonstrated the severity of the situation.

To address these challenges, the President announced the creation of a GH¢1 billion Revitalisation Fund, managed by a committee consisting of Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister of Finance; the Regional Minister; and himself, representing the MPs in the Bawku enclave, who now serves as Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.

The three-year fund, to be allocated from 2026 to 2028, will prioritize investments in the health and road sectors to enhance infrastructure and facilitate the movement of traders and farmers and their goods. President Mahama also revealed plans to complete one of the Agenda 111 hospitals in the region and construct a new hospital in Bawku to bolster healthcare delivery.

He assured that the government's broader revitalization efforts, combined with sustained peace, would reignite economic activity and restore Bawku's status as a crucial commercial center in Ghana.