Security forces in Ghana’s Upper East Region have arrested four individuals in connection with renewed violence in Bawku on Friday, January 10, which resulted in the death of two residents. The arrests followed a military-led operation aimed at curbing the escalating tensions in the area.

Authorities reported the retrieval of eight assault rifles and a large cache of ammunition during the operation. The arrests, which included two minors aged 15, underscore the troubling extent of the conflict, with even young individuals involved in the violence.

The recent clashes were reportedly triggered by a deadly ambush on a passenger bus earlier in the week, leaving several injured.

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This incident is believed to be part of ongoing tensions between rival factions rooted in longstanding chieftaincy disputes between the Kusasi and Mamprusi ethnic groups.

Since October 2024, the conflict has claimed at least 41 lives, with sporadic outbreaks of violence severely disrupting socio-economic activities in Bawku and its surrounding areas. Security forces continue efforts to restore calm in the municipality, but the persistence of military-grade weapons among armed groups presents significant challenges.

Despite successive government interventions, Bawku remains a flashpoint of ethnic tensions, with no long-term resolution in sight.