The government has named Bawku as one of the primary conflict hotspots to receive intensified peace and security interventions in 2026, according to the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy presented by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson on November 13, 2025.
The budget outlines an expanded mandate for the National Peace Council, which will scale up mediation efforts, promote religious tolerance, and roll out peace education programs next year. As part of these efforts, the Council “will intensify interventions in hotspots such as Bawku,” Dr. Forson told Parliament.
The move comes as tensions in the Bawku area continue to strain security agencies and disrupt social and economic activity. The Peace Council, which led national post-election dialogues and now chairs the Global Action Against Mass Atrocity Crimes, is expected to also train Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) on conflict prevention as part of its 2026 priorities.
The budget also highlights the role of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), which supported 173,800 disaster victims in 2025—more than four times its target—and dredged 255 drains to reduce urban flooding. In 2026, NADMO will expand early warning systems to all 16 regions and complete its Legislative Instrument.
On security, the Ghana Police Service is credited with maintaining stability through intelligence-led operations, including anti-galamsey crackdowns that dismantled major illegal mining networks. The Service also deployed specialised patrols, canine units, and school outreach programs.
In the coming year, the Police Service is expected to expand land-crime units, automate traffic law enforcement, and strengthen counterterrorism operations nationwide.
The government says these combined interventions are aimed at reducing insecurity, improving disaster response, and strengthening national stability, with renewed focus on crisis-prone communities like Bawku.
Source: a1radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Bolgatanga
