President John Dramani Mahama has inaugurated a five-member Bawku Revitalisation Committee to oversee the GH¢1 billion fund earmarked to rebuild Bawku and surrounding communities and restore the area’s economic potential.
The committee, chaired by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, will supervise reconstruction efforts, restore damaged public infrastructure and support initiatives aimed at reviving economic activity in the Upper East Region.
The fund follows President Mahama’s endorsement of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II mediation report on December 16, 2025, which proposed measures to promote lasting peace and reconciliation in Bawku.
Speaking at the inauguration, President Mahama said decades of chieftaincy and ethnic conflict had taken a heavy toll on the town, discouraging investment, disrupting livelihoods and limiting access to essential services.
He noted that teachers, nurses and doctors had been forced to leave the area because of security concerns, further worsening the impact of the conflict on residents.
“Decades of conflict have stalled both public and private investments, damaged livelihoods, and forced essential service providers, including teachers, nurses, and doctors, to flee the area for their safety,” he said.
The President commended the security agencies for their efforts in restoring relative calm to Bawku, noting that incidents of shootings and attacks had declined considerably.
He said the improved security situation provides an opportunity for the government to shift its attention from maintaining peace to rebuilding the local economy and infrastructure.
“The allocation for the Bawku Revitalisation Fund has now been made. With safety and security prevailing in Bawku and surrounding areas, this is the time to begin implementing the Fund,” President Mahama stated.
He tasked the committee with ensuring that the fund is managed transparently and that projects are implemented with urgency and accountability.
The five-member committee comprises Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Bawku Central MP and Minister-designate for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development Mahama Ayariga, Upper East Regional Minister Akamugri Donatus Atanga, Garu MP Dr Thomas Anaba, and Naba Abugri Cletus Akolwin, Paramount Chief of the Tempane Traditional Area.
Speaking on behalf of the committee and traditional leadership, Naba Abugri Cletus Akolwin expressed gratitude to President Mahama and pledged the committee’s commitment to ensuring that the fund delivers meaningful development.
He assured the public that every cedi would be used effectively to support development, rebuild livelihoods and promote social cohesion in Bawku and neighbouring communities.
The inauguration marks a major step in the government’s efforts to use infrastructure development and economic investment as part of its broader strategy to consolidate peace and restore Bawku’s position as a vibrant commercial centre.
By:Rachael Djabakie