The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) says reports that it men are killing innocent residents of Bawku in the Upper East Region are not true.
It rather chronicled a number of violent events, orchestrated by gunmen, within Bawku and its environs that claimed lives in some instances.
But it was categorical that the military detail to the area was not responsible for the deaths.
The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga is, for instance, among those who have accused the military of murder and has demanded investigations into what he called “inhuman” and “dastardly act” .
“The military shot at them and in the process killed six civilians. A little boy who also run to hide behind some grasses was also shot. The grass caught fire and burnt him to death, making the number 7,” the MP alleged on Wednesday, February 1.
Later reports put the deaths at 10.
Read also: Soldiers kill seven, including a boy, in Bawku – Angry Mahama Ayariga alleges
But the Ghana Armed Forces’ statement to the press on Thursday maintained: “GAF wishes to categorically state that these allegations are false and unfounded.”
It recalled among others how unknown gunmen opened fire on a passenger bus around Kpawelga on the Bawku Highways.
In a separate incident, it said sporadic firing was heard around Sabongari General Area.
A patrol team that was dispatched to assess the situation spotted unknown armed men at Gozesi-Valley side in Sabongari wearing black T-shirts with black hoodies.
“Troops engaged them and neutralized six (6) armed men. During the engagement, some armed men took cover in a mud house within the immediate vicinity to engage the Team.
“One of the armed men attempted to attack troops with a cutlass but was disarmed in the process. During the operation. a local woman found with a gunshot injury on left-hand was sent to Bawku Presbyterian Hospital by troops for treatment,” GAF recounted.
Find below the full statement denying the various reports.
GAF REFUTES KILLING ALLEGATIONS AT BAWKU
The attention of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has been drawn to allegations by some individuals in Bawku that soldiers deployed on Operation Gongong to restore calm in the area are killing innocent Kusasi youth and women in their homes and communities. They also allege that military personnel have seized Zoogin, a Kusasi community. GAF wishes to categorically state that these allegations are false and unfounded.
Information received from the National Investigations Bureau by the Operation Gongong Team of GAF early this week indicates that passengers on board a yellow KIA Grand Bird Bus with Registration Number AS 3672-21 travelling from Accra to Missiga were attacked by unknown gunmen around Kpawelga on the Bawku Highways. The gunmen fired through the tyre and engine compartment of the vehicle. The bus is currently packed at Assylum Down, Bawku Divisional Police Station for investigation to be conducted.
Also one KIA Rhino truck with registration number AS 7093-17 was hit and the driver of the truck, Alhassan Abdella aged 40, from the Gonja tribe sustained a gunshot wound on the left foot. He is currently receiving treatment at the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital.
Again, on Wednesday 1 February 2023, gunshots were heard around South Natinga in Bawku. A Patrol Team rushed to the general area of the shooting where a suspect, Abdul Malik Haruna, aged 35 from the Mamprusi tribe was arrested. He has since been handed over to the Bawku Police for further investigation.
It must be also placed on record that based on a tip off by the Bawku Police on the hideout of the suspects alleged to be involved in the firing incident at Bawku, troops conducted cordon and search operations together with Bawku Police at Pateleme General Area. Three suspects, Fatau Alhassan Binda, aged 42, Abubakar Iddrisu, aged 44 and Alhassan Mustapha Binda, aged 33, all from the Dagomba tribe were arrested in a house at Pateleme. They were handed over to the Bawku Police for further investigations.
In a separate incident, sporadic firing was heard around Sabongari General Area. A Patrol Team dispatched to assess the situation spotted unknown armed men at Gozesi-Valley side in Sabongari wearing black T-shirts with Black Hoodies. Troops engaged them and neutralized six (6) armed men. During the engagement, some armed men took cover in a mud house within the immediate vicinity to engage the Team. One of the armed men attempted to attack troops with a cutlass but was disarmed in the process. During the operation. a local woman found with a gunshot injury on left-hand was sent to Bawku Presbyterian Hospital by troops for treatment.
Following these incidents and the false allegations making the rounds, it has become necessary for GAF to disclose these outcomes in order to dispel false information and the wrong notion that a particular group is being targeted by troops in Bawku.
The Ghana Armed Forces therefore once again wishes to assure the general public of its commitment to protecting the citizenry at all times. It is therefore soliciting the support of all peaceloving Ghanaians especially indigenes of Bawku to facilitate the process of bringing normalcy to the area and also to aid GAF in de-escalating tension in the interest of the needed peace and security for the socio-economic development of Bawku and the nationa as a whole.
SIGNED
Naval Captain
Director Public Relations