Bissa Community in Adjen Kotoku Calls for Peace in Bawku During Zekula Festival Celebration
The people of Bissa in Adjen Kotoku, in collaboration with the Bissa Onion Traders and Farmers Union, have called for lasting peace in Bawku, stressing the urgent need for unity and reconciliation in the troubled area.
This passionate appeal was made during the celebration of the annual Zekula Festival, held on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Adjen Kotoku in the Amasaman Constituency. The festival, a key event on the Bissa cultural calendar, serves as a platform to promote unity and address pressing issues affecting their communities.
Speaking at the event, Sule Dabre, a member of the Zekula Festival Committee, underscored the importance of peace in resolving the Bawku conflict, which he said has brought untold suffering and hindered development.
He urged all factions to lay down their arms and embrace dialogue, noting that the destruction of property and infrastructure would only deepen the community’s woes.
“These killings and destruction of infrastructure are not going to help. We appeal that they should cease fire and live in peace and unity,” Mr. Dabre said.
“Let us marry ourselves, love ourselves, and live in harmony so we can all grow the community.”
Mr. Dabre further stated that without peace, Bawku cannot thrive, and he appealed to the government to intensify efforts to resolve the conflict swiftly.
Joining the celebration, the Member of Parliament for Amasaman Constituency, Hon. Sedem Afenyo, lauded the Bissa people for preserving their rich cultural heritage through the Zekula Festival. He echoed the call for peace, emphasizing that development cannot occur in an atmosphere of conflict.
“I am here to support my constituents in celebrating this festival and to preach peace. Without peace, I don’t think we would be gathered here,” Hon. Afenyo stated.
He urged all ethnic groups to come together, highlighting that despite their diverse backgrounds, they are all part of the same community.
“So I’ll encourage all of us to give peace a chance. We are one people — the Northerners, the Ewes, the Akans, the Gas — we are one people. Let’s all come together and live in peace,” he said.
The celebration of the Zekula Festival this year not only showcased the vibrant culture of the Bissa people but also reinforced the collective yearning for peace, unity, and progress in Ghana’s northern communities.
