Security analyst Adib Saani has emphasised that curfews are not a permanent solution to conflicts but rather a short-term strategy to manage volatile situations.

His comments follow the government's decision, through the Ministry of the Interior, to enforce a 12-hour daily curfew in Bawku from 6:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M. after renewed tensions linked to the controversial return of Seidu Abagre, who was enskinned as Bawku Naba in February 2023.

Despite the curfew and an emergency meeting by the National Security Council, violence persists in the area. Reports indicate that clashes have claimed at least three lives, with several homes destroyed by fire.

Speaking on Starr Today with Naa Dedei Tettey, Adib Saani described curfews as interim measures meant to reduce immediate tensions but criticised their effectiveness in addressing the root causes of the conflict.

He pointed out that previous curfews imposed in Bawku had failed to resolve the underlying issues and called for more innovative and sustainable solutions to bring lasting peace to the area.

"Well, I've always indicated that curfews don't solve the problem. Curfews are just an interim measure put in place to stop the belligerence or the firing of weapons.

But when we don't take advantage of the lull in fighting to address the other structural issues on the ground that are facilitating the cycle of violence in that area, then the violence recurs," he said.

"And we have seen this time and time again. Indeed, in the past, we've had curfews imposed. And no sooner does the curfew start than the violence starts again," he noted.

He continued: "And believe it or not, mostly the violence also happens in the evening when the curfew is in place. So it's been proven beyond reasonable doubt that curfews don't really work as much as we expected to do. For that matter, the need for us to explore other means to deal with the issue once and for all."