The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has denied involvement in the killing of three innocent Kusasi youth in Bawku, labelling the accusation as ‘false and unfounded’.
The GAF, in a statement signed by Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quashie, Director General of Public Relations, emphasized the need for accurate information cautioned against drawing the military into direct armed confrontation.
The statement comes amidst a resurgence of violence in the Bawku region, with fatal incidents reported in various communities.
The conflict, which escalated on January 12, resulted in the murder of Issah Halidu, a 40-year-old Mamprusi, allegedly shot by unidentified gunmen while attempting to rustle cattle in a Kusasi-dominated settlement.
The violence continued on the night of January 12 and into the early hours of January 13, with sporadic gunshots reported in several areas.
Subsequent attacks on January 17 and 18 led to the death of two individuals and injuries to four others, belonging to different tribal backgrounds.
GAF reported an incident on January 18, where unknown gunmen fired at military positions, and a police patrol team thwarted an attempt to detonate a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) bomb at a filling station in Bawku.
Later that day, troops conducting patrols in Sabongari were fired upon, resulting in the neutralization of three assailants.
Despite expressing regret for the demise of the assailants, the GAF stressed the changing dynamics of the threat profile, citing attempts to deploy high explosives such as RPG bombs in the operational environment.
The military also revealed the recovery of an AK-47 rifle with ammunition during the operations.
Brigadier General Aggrey-Quashie emphasized that directly engaging the military could have fatal consequences, as troops would defend themselves and protect residents.
The GAF called for the support of peace-loving Ghanaians, especially the people of Bawku, to aid in de-escalating tension for the sake of peace, security, and socio-economic development in the region and the nation as a whole.
“GAF wishes to assure the general public of its fervent commitment to protecting the citizenry. We implore the support of all peace-loving Ghanaians to facilitate the process of bringing lasting peace to the area,” the statement said.