Bawku Haunts Ayariga

Mahama Ayariga

PRESIDENTIAL spokesperson, , has fired a stern warning at journalists, saying, henceforth no one should dare mention his name in any discussion on the violent conflict that has killed several innocent souls in Bawku and caused a 1.00pm curfew to be imposed on the municipality.

The warning from Ayariga comes at a time when reports are rife that he is experiencing an agonizing nightmare, as his job as Presidential Spokesperson is being threatened because of his perceived involvement in the Bawku conflict.

Six persons, comprising five men and a woman, were killed by sniper bullets in the heat of reprisals killings last Sunday. A 1.00pm to 6.00am curfew has been imposed on the town.

Mr. Ayariga, in an outburst on Monday, blamed his woes on the media and alleged that there is a politically orchestrated agenda to tarnish his name by drawing him into discussions on the conflict.

Speaking on Monday to Kwabena Bobie Ansah on Asempa Fm, Ayariga charged: “No matter what people would write about me and Bawku, no matter what stations say and no matter what people like you choose to do on your radio station, mentioning my name, the simple statement that I want to make is that I was born in Bawku; I belong to Bawku; I can go to Bawku and I will go to Bawku at anytime and I will engage in Bawku with those who will engage with me.

“It is because the people that you call and people like you yourself sitting in the station mention my name; it is not that people attribute it to me; it is people like you seated in that station who mention my name. Who mentioned my name this afternoon on your radio station?

You mentioned my name… yes, you mentioned it so it is people like you and people who run newspapers that are opposed to the political tradition that I belong to that mention my name,” he yelled at the host.

Continuing in an angry mood Ayariga said: “And it is people like the person that you interviewed before me who give credence to the mentioning of my name by the way they choose to answer the questions that you ask.

So I can clearly see the political orchestration and the agenda that had been set, all aimed at destroying the name of ; but I will continue to remain a very peaceful and quiet person and I will not engage you in the way that you want me to engage you.

“Please keep my name out of all your discussions on Bawku. I am an ordinary citizen of Bawku and as an ordinary citizen of Bawku, I am entitled to visit my hometown like any of you any time.

And when I visit my hometown, I am entitled to visit my relatives and do whatever I want to do with them,” he added.

Ayariga denied his involvement in the conflict and said he could not have incited any of the warring factions because he is accompanied by security officers anytime he visits Bawku.

He fumed that the matter is being politicized because according to him, “the problems of Bawku predates the political activity that we are engaged in, in contemporary times”.

Ayariga continued: “If you know the history of Bawku, you would know that before NDC emerged, before NPP emerged and even before CPP emerged, the problems that we are grappling with today were there.

“I may have some people who do not like me for their own reasons and who are in Bawku; but the truth of the matter is that I hate nobody and I wish nobody any ill-will.

I do not want anybody to be hurt in Bawku and as you know, I have relations that cross ethnic groups in Bawku and I do not want anybody to be hurt in anyway so please I want to advise that if you talk about Bawku, link up with the security agencies and the Chief Executives on the ground and get your facts right,” he cautioned.

A Daily Guide Report