By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA
Tema, Dec. 29, GNA – The AfriKan Continental Union Consult (ACUC), a think tank on the transformation of African communities, has called for the proposed Bawku Revitalisation and Recovery Fund, to be transparent, inclusive, and insulated from partisan politics to ensure it delivers meaningful post-conflict development.
In an open letter signed by Dr Benjamin Anyagre Aziginaateeg, the ACUC Ghana Chapter Executive Director, addressed to Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister of Finance and Acting Minister of Defence, and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Tema, it said the success of the fund depended largely on clear operational rules, a defined scope, and strong public accountability mechanisms.
It described the Fund as a covenant between the State and the people that must be purpose-driven and transformative to heal the effects of prolonged unrest in Bawku and its surrounding communities.
It stressed the need for the Fund to operate as a revolving and catalytic financing mechanism, capable of attracting additional support from development partners, humanitarian agencies, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector.
The ACUC, a dedicated special account should be created to complement the proposed GH₵1 billion seed funding to sustain investments in infrastructure, livelihoods, and social services.
It raised concerns about the geographical scope of the Fund, urging the government to clearly state whether it would be limited to the Bawku Municipality or extended to surrounding communities within the wider Kusaug area to avoid exclusion and tension.
It also called for the publication of clear modalities, rules, and timelines for implementation, noting that annual allocations should be broken down into specific projects with measurable performance benchmarks.
“The Fund must be depoliticised and protected from partisan influence.
“Public trust is critical if it is to change the development trajectory of Kusaug and its culturally diverse people,” the letter stated.
The ACUC proposed participatory oversight mechanisms, including quarterly public engagements through local media, regular briefings to traditional authorities, and structured feedback systems for beneficiaries.
It emphasised that the Revitalisation Fund should complement, and not replace, existing statutory transfers such as the District Assembly Common Fund, and also advocated strong sanctions against any misuse of resources meant for the recovery of Bawku.
It called for the strategic alignment of the fund with existing development frameworks, noting that to maximise value for money, the SADA Development Blueprint for the North-Eastern Corridor of Ghana, including Kusaug, should be retrieved, reviewed, and where necessary revised.
“Its strategic focus, especially on accelerated agricultural transformation, should guide implementation under the revitalisation fund,” it added.
It stressed that all disasters, be they natural or man-made, including civil unrest and the destruction of social infrastructure, required deliberate recovery and restoration processes, adding that the lingering effects of prolonged unrest in Bawku could only be eclipsed through speedy, targeted and inclusive development interventions.
The ACUC said Rwanda’s post-genocide transformation demonstrated that intentional, people-centred development, which provided the essentials of life, enabled communities to heal, reconcile, and refocus on a shared future.
It advocated for the utilisation of the military in infrastructure recovery efforts, explaining that military-led development offered strategic advantages such as cost efficiency and value for money, reduced capital expenditure, strong engineering and technical expertise, high organisational discipline and efficiency, and quality assurance and durable infrastructure standards.
“The Armed Forces possess deep familiarity with the Kusaug terrain, having played a stabilising role during periods of unrest.
It said a cost-benefit analysis strongly favoured leveraging their expertise in post-conflict recovery.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo