The Director of National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in the Bongo District, Mohammed Seidu Akugri, has been killed.

His death was announced by the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central and Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga in a press statement dated May 20.

Per the statement, Seidu Akugri was gruesomely murdered as he was shot and burnt in Nangodi near Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.

The Bawku Central legislator has called on the law enforcement agencies "to thoroughly investigate and apprehend the perpetrators of this dastardly act."

He also commiserated with the bereaved family, stating: " My heartfelt condolences to the family of my late comrade."

The reason for the attack against the NHIA Director remains unknown.

In a related event, Mr Ayariga has urged the youth in the locality to remain calm as the government and traditional authorities work to resolve the Bawku crisis.

He added: "I commend the youth for the restraint displayed so far and their recent efforts to maintain peace in Bawku. Significant progress is being made and no one should be allowed to derail the process."

Presently, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has resumed mediation efforts aimed at bringing lasting peace to the Bawku area, which has been plagued by recurring tensions over chieftaincy dispute.

The renewed mediation comes amid recent escalations in Bawku, where confrontations between youth and security forces have led to casualties, injuries, and the destruction of property.

The Asantehene has pledged to do everything within his power to ensure peace returns to Bawku.

"We need peace to develop. My duty, together with the traditional authority, is to make sure that there is peace everywhere. Therefore, we make sure that we adjudicate issues when there are conflicts so that the government can also have peace to do its work," Otumfuo stated.

He added, "Recently, there have been some communal conflicts within the upper part of Ghana, closer to Burkina Faso (Bawku), but we are putting in every effort to ensure there is lasting peace."

Stakeholders believe that mediation efforts so far have yielded some results.