President John Dramani Mahama has criticised the recent insurgency in Bawku where a military officer was killed by the residents with the military initiating a reprisal attack on the people.
The attack on the residents, following the killing of the officer, led to the injury of many residents including women and children.
The President condemned the incidents when he visited the Upper East Region Thursday, March 20, 2025, as part of his “Thank You Tour.”
According to the President, the military officers stationed at Bawku are there to ensure peace in the area and should not be the target of the conflict which they are not party to.
“I wish to take this opportunity to condemn the killing of a member of the Ghana army recently in Bawku. The members of the Ghana Armed Forces in the conflict zone are peacekeepers who have been sent there to protect life, limb, and property.
“It is unacceptable for them to become targets of a conflict to which they are not a party to. I, in the same vein, wish to condemn the high-handed response of our men in uniform, which resulted in assaults and injuries of many innocent civilians,” he indicated.
The President further condemned the reprisal attack by the officers on the residents as a result of the killing of their colleague.
He admitted that although it is painful for them to lose a colleague, it also doesn’t make it right for them to unleash their anger on innocent residents, some of whom are vulnerable, such as women and children.
“I can understand the righteous anger at the loss of a colleague serviceman, but we must exercise restraint and use effective intelligence gathering to identify and bring the culprits to book,” he stated.
President Mahama also expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and extended his sympathies to those who were assaulted and got injured through the military brutalities.
“I wish, on this occasion, to extend my condolence to the family of the deceased soldier and, at the same time, to extend my sympathies to all those who were assaulted or injured in the military counteraction.
“The progress of our nation depends on the shared effort of all its people towards a common purpose and a collective vision for prosperity. The Upper East Region, like every other part of Ghana, deserves its fair share of development.
The President also lauded the Asantehene for his mediation efforts in the Bawku conflict and called on the factions involved to cooperate with the Otumfuo.
‘It is time for lasting peace to prevail’ – Mahama pleads with residents of Bawku & its environs
