Source asaaseradio
Business News Ghana
Bawku Unrest: Traders and drivers demand protection on Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom road
Traders and vehicle operators along the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom highway are appealing to the government for urgent security intervention following escalating attacks linked to the renewed Bawku conflict.
The conflict, which reignited in 2021, has left the town of Bawku and surrounding communities devastated—destroying lives, property, and livelihoods, and forcing families into homelessness.
Once a bustling commercial hub, Bawku has been rendered unrecognizable by the prolonged unrest.
Since the conflict began, 15 drivers have reportedly lost their lives on the highway, with attacks continuing despite the risks. The United Vehicle Operators and Traders Association has now called for 24-hour security to protect travelers, traders, and vehicles from armed groups laying ambushes along the critical corridor.
Addressing the media during a press conference on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, in Bawku, Abdul Ganiyu Mba Bugri, reading on behalf of the associations, said the crisis has evolved from a chieftaincy dispute into a major economic and public-safety concern.
“Armed groups have set up illegal roadblocks, diverted travellers, and attacked vehicles attempting to access the township.
These activities forced many businesses to shut down. We are ready to resume operations, but we can only do so with improved security on this critical corridor,” he said.
Abdul Ganiyu further urged authorities to increase visible patrols and security checkpoints, especially at known hotspots including Bazua, the ICON filling station area, and other routes leading into Bawku. He called for enhanced coordination among regional and border security agencies to prevent vehicle diversion, smuggling, and unauthorised cross-border movements.
Abubakari Rahinatu Bateisima, a trader, appealed emotionally for government intervention, saying:
“We are Ghanaians, but they are blocking us from using the Bolga-Pulmakom road. Our children are suffering. People should not take the law into their own hands while the government watches.”
The associations also accused politicians of biased approaches to the conflict, urging the government to ensure fair security measures for all factions.
The protesters emphasised that restoring peace and securing the highway is critical not only for traders and drivers but for the economic stability of the region.
.png)
