A Lecturer at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Dr. Victor Doke, has advised the government to invest in the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to address and resolve the Bawku conflict.

He suggests that providing adequate funding for conflict resolution bodies would ensure effective engagement with the various factions involved in the conflict.

Dr. Doke believes that this proactive approach, involving sustained investment, will position the government at the forefront of addressing the Bawku conflict, rather than allocating resources only after the conflict has escalated.

Speaking on The Pulse on JoyNews, he recalled how in the early 2000’s, "We had a consortium of NGOs that went to Kumasi, engaged the two factions and came up with recommendations. What has come out of those recommendations? Can we boldly say that the recommendations have been implemented?

Dr. Victor Doke recalled that there were plans to establish and resource a peace committee or secretariat to address the Bawku conflict.

"In fact, this is a body that is mandated to look at the conflict and address it. It was constituted of members or representatives of every ethnic group in Bawku. This committee has not been resourced. They need periodic capacity building with regard to conflict resolution so that they can address issues relating to festival celebrations, burials, and whatnot.”

Dr. Victor Doke emphasized that the only way to completely resolve the Bawku conflict is through continued engagement with all factions involved.

He suggests that a conflict resolution body should maintain regular and up-to-date engagement with the parties in conflict to have a comprehensive understanding of the issues.

“We don’t have the sustained engagement going on so we have this, what we call... firefight push coming in every time. You are not looking at the structural preventive measures.

“The creation of jobs, ensuring that there is justice where people who have been found to be perpetuating crime either in Bawku or outside have been made to face the full rigorous of the law. That has not happened,” he said.