A security analyst, Samuel Appiah, has called on the government to officially designate armed groups operating in the Bawku enclave as “enemies of the state.”
Appiah, in an interview with Star FM, warned that the nature of the violence has shifted from local unrest to a direct confrontation with the military, which constitutes a challenge to the sovereignty of the nation.
This, he said, is a major challenge that he described as a growing “bravado” among bandits as they are now willing to engage directly with the Ghana Armed Forces.
He noted that despite various recommendations and consultations aimed at restoring peace, there is a clear refusal by certain factions to accept a peaceful resolution.
“These people don’t seem to want to accept [consultation],” Appiah remarked. “And the worst of it is somebody trying to garner the bravado to attack the military. It means they are gradually becoming enemies of the state.”
The analyst emphasized that the military occupies a unique and sacred position within the country’s constitutional framework, serving as the primary institution odefencese.
“By the constitution as we have it, the military is the defence institution of the country.
“They take every bullet on behalf of the country. And so, if anybody would want to engage them, then it means we better declare those people enemies of the state,” he said.
His call follows a daring and deadly ambush on a civilian convoy with military escort neqr Binduri in the Upper East Region, which led to the death of three civilians.
Seven armed bandits were killed by the military, and ten more arrested.
The military also seized a cache of arms from the bandits.
The proposal to declare these groups “enemies of the state” would potentially authorize the military to use more decisive force to neutralize the threat.
Appiah argued that such a move is necessary to protect national stability and uphold the authority of the state against those who seek to undermine it through violence.
The call for a more aggressive posture comes amid a fragile calm in Basua, where residents are still reeling from the weekend’s violence.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
