Executive Director of the Ghana Chapter of the AfriKan Continental Union Consult, Benjamin Anyagre Aziginaateeg has outlined key expectations and proposals for the proposed Bawku Revitalization and Recovery Fund, calling for transparency, inclusiveness and depoliticised management to ensure lasting peace and development in the conflict-affected area.
He described the fund as a critical post-conflict intervention needed to address the long-term social and economic impact of unrest in Bawku and surrounding communities.
Dr. Anyagere Aziginaateeg shared this in an open letter dated December 29, 2025, and addressed to the Minister for Finance/Acting Minister of Defence, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and copied to the President of the Kusaug Traditional Council, Zugraan Bawku Naba Asigri Abugrago Asoka II.
“All disasters—whether natural or man-made, including civil unrest and the destruction of social infrastructure—require deliberate recovery and restoration processes. The lingering effects of prolonged unrest in Bawku can only be eclipsed through speedy, targeted, and inclusive development interventions,” he wrote.
He argued that sustainable development remains central to peacebuilding and reconciliation, drawing parallels with post-genocide recovery efforts such as Rwanda’s.
According to him, the proposed fund should be purpose-driven, transparent and transformative, operating as a revolving fund capable of attracting support from development partners, humanitarian agencies and the private sector.
He proposed the creation of a special account to supplement the government’s proposed GH₵1 billion seed funding to ensure continuity of recovery programmes.
He further called for clarity on the scope of the fund, questioning whether it would be limited strictly to Bawku Municipality or extended to surrounding communities within the wider Kusaug area, warning that ambiguity could fuel exclusion and renewed tensions.
“This fund must therefore be purpose-driven, transparent, and transformative,” he stated in the letter.
Aziginaateeg stressed the need for clear operational rules, timelines and performance benchmarks, alongside measures to insulate the fund from partisan political influence.
He recommended quarterly public engagements, regular briefings for traditional authorities, and feedback mechanisms for beneficiaries to strengthen accountability and community ownership.
On implementation, he proposed aligning the revitalization fund with existing development frameworks, including the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority blueprint for the North-Eastern Corridor, particularly in areas related to agricultural transformation.
He also suggested that the Ghana Armed Forces play a leading role in infrastructure recovery efforts, citing cost efficiency, technical expertise and familiarity with the terrain as key advantages in post-conflict reconstruction.
“The Armed Forces possess deep familiarity with the Kusaug terrain, having played a stabilising role during periods of unrest,” he noted.
Priority development areas identified in the letter include agricultural and economic infrastructure, climate-resilient projects, education and skills development, healthcare facilities, and social infrastructure.
He further recommended intensified agro-forestry initiatives to address desertification and climate change.
On governance, Aziginaateeg cautioned that District Assembly Common Funds should continue uninterrupted, stressing that the revitalization fund should serve as an emergency intervention rather than a replacement.
He called for strong community oversight involving chiefs, youth and women’s groups, as well as strict sanctions for any misuse of funds.
He also framed the Bawku revitalization programme as a strategic regional and Pan-African initiative, citing the area’s proximity to Burkina Faso and Togo. He proposed consideration of establishing an African Continental Free Trade Area sub-office in Bawku to promote cross-border trade and regional integration.
