Youth in Tamale surrender illegal arms following peace talks

Some youth in Tamale are surrendering their weapons following peace talks initiated by a chief in the area.

The Tamale Dekpemah, Mamaha Dawuni initiated the move following failed attempts by the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) that had attempted to induce residents with a reward scheme for those who returned illegal arms.

Joy News' Northern Regional correspondent Mahama Shaibu, who witnessed the arms surrender, reported there have been widespread concerns about unauthorised arms in the hands of the youth in the Savelugu metropolis.

Early this year, a butcher was shot and killed in a scuffle between supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The Northern REGSEC in a bid to rid the society of the danger of illicit and uncontolled gun use responded by giving cash rewards to those who returned their guns.

This strategy however failed but the Dekpemah, in concert with the police, initiated a peace talk leading to the surrender of two guns from two youth groups while others are preparing to hand in.

The Depkemah, Mamaha Dawuni, told newsmen after he received cash and book donations towards his education fund from a health centre in Tamale, that he would do more to convince the youth to surrender their weapons to ensure lasting peace in Tamale.

Credit: Mahama Shaibu/Joy News correspondent/Ghana