President Mahama Calls for Unity in Bawku While Unveiling Savannah Development Plan

President John Dramani Mahama has made a strong appeal for peace and unity in the country, especially in Bawku and its surrounding areas.

The call came on Monday, 20th July 2025, at the Jubilee House when the King and Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, paid him a courtesy visit.

During the engagement, the President expressed concern over the growing insecurity in Bawku and condemned the ongoing violence. “We cannot accept the current situation where students are shot in school and killed,” he said.

He described the state of fear in Bawku as unacceptable, adding that “we can’t accept the current situation where teachers, public officers have all run away from Bawku because they are afraid for their lives.”

To address the crisis, President Mahama revealed that he had instructed the Ghana Armed Forces to adopt a stronger posture in the region. “I have directed the Ghana Army to move from peacekeeping to peace enforcement,” he declared.

The President urged the various communities to prioritize national cohesion. “Give peace a chance,” he appealed, explaining that “there can be no progress without peace.”

He commended the Gonja Kingdom for their efforts in maintaining regional peace and stability. “I wish to commend you for the peace that reigns in Gonja land,” he said.

In addition to the peace message, the President unveiled an ambitious development agenda for the Savannah Region. The plan includes:

• Construction of a regional hospital in Damango

• Provision of 10 kilometers of roads per district each year

• Establishment of a regional university college

• Agricultural support programme Initiatives to create jobs for the youth

Mahama emphasized a vision of development that leaves no one behind. “Let us see each other as each other’s keeper,” he said, pledging that “no child in Savannah region is left behind.”

The visit of the Yagbonwura to the presidency was symbolic of national healing and unity. President Mahama concluded by reaffirming his call for togetherness. “The values of unity, patriotism and compassion are more urgent than ever. We must resist the forces of division and exclusion that undermine our shared heritage.”

By Bawa Musah