Five Members of Parliament from the Bawku area, which has been torn apart by fighting, on Wednesday appealed to residents to work for peace and to desist from taking the law into their own hands.
"We urge you to put your differences aside so that together, we work to recover the huge losses we have incurred as a result of this needless conflict," a statement signed by the MPs said.
The statement also called on the Government as well as civil society organisations and well-meaning individuals to assist the people of Bawku to rediscover peace and develop together in unity.
Mr John Ndebugre (Zebilla); Mahama Ayariga (Bawku) and Mark Anthony Awuni (Binduri). Two other MPs who did not sign because they are not available are Mr Dominic Zaumah (Garu-Tampane) and Simon Atingban Akunye (Pusiga).
It said, in as much as they condemned the murder of Alhaji Karim Oga and such similar criminal acts in no uncertain terms, citizens should not thwart Government's effort at promoting peace and stability. "This tends to excuse brazen acts of crime and encourage impunity in the area."
The statement called on the people to co-operate with the security agencies by volunteering information on all criminal acts so as to enable authorities to bring perpetrators to book.
"We also express appreciation to the Minister of the Interior for reviewing the curfew hours imposed on the area", it said. The curfew will now run from 1500 hours to 0700 hours. This means that the people can come out and engage in normal activities between 0700 hours and 1500 hours daily.
Fighting erupted between the Kusasis and the Mamprusis in Bawku as a result of some criminal acts during the annual Samanpiid Festival of the Chiefs and People of Kusasi Traditional Area on December 31, 2007.
Government's interventions, however, brought the situation under control until the eve of May 5, 2008 when gunmen killed Alhaji Oga, a Kusasi opinion leader, which led to the resumption of hostilities between the feuding factions.
The government slapped a 22-hour curfew on the area but relaxed it at the request of the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC).
Government said the reduction in the curfew hours was aimed at enabling the people of Bawku Municipality, Zabugu, Binduri, Pusiga, Zoosi and their environs to attend to various household chores, go to the market and generally help these areas to return to normalcy whilst at the same time enabling the Police and the Military to maintain the calm that is returning to these areas.
The Government again reminded the public that the ban on all persons in the Bawku Municipal Area, Zabugu, Binduri, Pusiga and Soosi townships and their environs from carrying arms, ammunitions or any offensive weapon still remained in force, and any person found with any arms or ammunition would be arrested and prosecuted.