The Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery, has placed Bawku in the Upper East Region, under a 14-hour curfew.
A press release announcing the curfew said it takes effect from Wednesday 24th November 2021 is 4:00 pm to 6:00 am.
“The Minister for the Interior has on the advice of the Upper East Regional Security Council and by Executive Instrument imposed a curfew on Bawku Municipality and its environs in the Upper East Region from 4:00 pm to 6:00 am effective, Wednesday 24th November 2021,” part of the statement signed by Ambrose Dery said.
According to the release, the curfew is a “result of threats of insecurity in the communities concerned.”
Ambrose Dery warned that any person within the Municipality found to be carrying arms or ammunition will be arrested and prosecuted.
He has therefore called on “the Chiefs, Elders, Opinion Leaders, Youth and people of the area to exercise restraint in the face of the challenges confronting them as well as to use non-violent means to channel their energies into ensuring peace.”
Earlier on Tuesday, 23rd November 2021, the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, who is also the Chairman of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) had written to the Chairman of the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) directing the enforcement of a ban on the wearing of smocks.
According to the Regional Minister’s letter, smocks were being used by unscrupulous gunmen to hide guns which they use to attack people.
“Following the decision taken by REGSEC during the emergency meeting, the wearing of smock in Bawku township has been banned with immediate effect. This was necessitated by the fact that criminals or unscrupulous elements hide arms and ammunition in smocks and attack opponents or innocent civilians,” the letter said.
It asked the MUSEC to ensure that the directive is enforced, saying anyone who does not comply should be dealt with accordingly.