President John Dramani Mahama has strongly condemned the killing of a Ghanaian soldier in Bawku by unknown gunmen, calling it an unacceptable act that threatens peace and stability in the Upper East Region.
Speaking during his ‘Thank You’ tour in Bolgatanga, the president stressed that the military personnel deployed to the area are peacekeepers and should not be targeted in a conflict they are not involved in.
“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,” Mahama stated.
The deceased soldier was part of a team deployed to maintain peace, law, and order amid the ongoing Bawku chieftaincy dispute. The president expressed his condolences to the family of the fallen officer and urged security agencies to use intelligence-led operations to bring the perpetrators to justice.
However, Mahama also condemned the military’s heavy-handed response following the soldier’s killing, which led to reports of assaults and abuse of residents in the area. While acknowledging the pain and frustration of the security forces, he emphasized the need for professionalism and restraint in their operations.
“I wish to condemn the high-handed response of our men in uniform, which resulted in assaults and injury of many innocent civilians. 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 said.
The president urged all parties involved in the Bawku conflict to return to peace negotiations with an open mind. He emphasized that without peace, the region’s development would be hindered, and innocent lives would continue to be at risk.
“There can be no progress without peace. The programs I have just outlined and the commitments my government has made to you will mean nothing if we leave behind communities scarred by violence, towns silenced by curfews, and corporations eroded by distrust,” Mahama stated.
Reaffirming his government’s commitment to the equitable development of the Upper East Region, Mahama assured residents that investments in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, and education would continue as part of efforts to uplift the region.
“The Upper East Region, like every other part of Ghana, deserves its fair share of development not as a favor, but as a testament to my government’s commitment to ensuring that no Ghanaian is left behind,” he assured.
