The Mamprugu Youth Association (MAYA) – Bawku Chapter wishes to address the recent statement issued by the Kusaug Youth Movement, which unjustly criticizes Dr. Palgrave Boakye Danquah for his comments regarding the ongoing Bawku crisis when he appeared on the GBC News channel on Friday, November 1st, 2024.
We are compelled to clarify the factual inaccuracies presented in their statement and reaffirm our commitment to an informed and balanced discourse on this matter. Dr. Palgrave Boakye Danquah has provided crucial historical context regarding the Bawku situation, referencing authentic court documents, including the 1980 Bolgatanga High Court ruling that confirmed the rights of the Mamprusis as Bawku Naaba and restrained Abugrago Azoka from presenting himself as chief.
Furthermore, Dr. Palgrave highlighted the ruling from the National House of Chiefs in 1983, which also favored the Mamprusis. These are the most recent and relevant rulings, and it is both perplexing and disheartening that the Kusaug Youth Movement chooses to overlook them but reference outdated judgments from 1958 that have been effectively reversed.
MAYA strongly condemns the Kusaug Youth Movement’s allegations that the media is biased in favor of the Mamprusis. The assertion that the media has provided one-sided commentary is unfounded. On the contrary and quite ironically, Kusasis have been the beneficiaries of biased media reportage over the years.
Such biased reportage is what Kusasis rode on to hoodwink Ghanaians into believing the palpable lie that the land of Bawku belongs to them. Just last week, we witnessed biased media reportage in favor of the Kusasis in several instances like Cletus Avoka on Metro TV Good Morning Ghana on Wednesday, October 29th, 2024.
Then on Channel One News and Citi FM on Monday, October 28, he had a platform to accuse the government of complicity in the Bawku crisis. Emmanuel Habuka Bombande, on the other hand, was on the same state-owned GTV on Friday, October 30, 2024, for over 20 minutes, clearly exhibiting his bias towards Mamprusis.
The saying that “Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad” clearly manifested in Emmanuel Bombande’s interview on GTV when, in a bizarre fashion, he went citing Afari Gyan, who has no association whatsoever with the Bawku crisis.
In all of Bombande’s diatribe, he failed to mention the killing of innocent Bissa youth by the Kusasis he loves to wine and dine with. He fails to mention the economic blockade of Bissa women who are prevented by Kusasi Youth from accessing the Bawku central market.
Bombande is comfortable spitting biases against Mamprusis while turning a blind eye to the deprivation of the livelihoods of his own Bissa kinsmen by Kusasi bandits.
MAYA did not, in any of these instances stated above, threaten any media house or the individuals who granted space to Cletus Apul Avoka and Emmanuel Habuka Bombande to spew their biases.
It is therefore table for the Kusaug Youth Movement to threaten media platforms and individuals, such as Lawyer Saumson Lardy Anvenini, for facilitating balanced discussions that include perspectives from both sides.
We encourage Dr. Palgrave and Lawyer Samson to remain steadfast in their commitment to factual reporting and dialogue. We also call upon all media outlets to continue their vital role in providing balanced coverage of the Bawku crisis.
This is essential for fostering understanding and resolution in our communities. Our advice to the Kusaug Youth Movement is that they learn to use civil means of getting redress instead of resorting to vile threats and the use of gun violence.
The Mamprugu Youth Association stands firm in our belief that honest and respectful dialogue is the path forward. We urge all stakeholders to prioritize truth and reconciliation over divisive rhetoric and misinformation.
Cc: All Media Houses.
