The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, has called on the people of Bawku in the Upper East Region to use festivals, funerals and other social gatherings to interact and get to know each other better so as to foster understanding and tolerance amongst themselves.
Mr Woyongo said it was only peaceful co-existence that could bring about development in the area and that if the people were to understand each other, respect each others' rights and dignity, there would be no need killing each other.
The Minister made the call when he addressed a durbar of chiefs and people of Kulungungu near Bawku, during the celebration of the annual Zekula Festival of the Bissas. This year's event was under the theme, "Peace, Unity in diversity for development".
He noted that the resources used to maintain peace in Bawku could be used for development projects such as schools, hospitals, roads, and the provision of potable water in the area, adding that if there was peace investors would have been encouraged to put up businesses that would enhance the socio-economic development of the people.
Mr Woyongo asked parents to invest in the education of their children so that they would grow to be enlightened and have a broad knowledge of issues around them.
Chiri Barichie Zitto, Chief of the area, called on traditional rulers to use their divine wisdom to restrain people from engaging in conflict.
Chiri Zitto said it would be ideal for community members to meet periodically to deliberate on issues that would bring about development in the area.
He asked the people to desist from giving their children foreign names and rather use their local names that would help them to identify with their culture and traditions.
The chairman of the Bissa Youth Association, Mr John Kularibe, called on government to assist the area by rehabilitating the roads and dams to boost agriculture, which is the main source of livelihood of the people.
Mr Kularibe appealed to the warring factions to lay down their guns and allow peace to prevail.
He appealed to government to improve education infrastructure in the area, as many of the schools were not in good shape. He added that the lack of classrooms and educational infrastructure discouraged parents from sending their children to school.