Majority leader,Mahama Ayariga on Monday condemned what he described as excessive and unacceptable conduct by military personnel deployed in the conflict-prone town of Bawku, calling for an immediate investigation into their actions following a violent incident over the weekend.
Ayariga, who represents Bawku Central in Parliament issued a sharply worded statement following Sunday’s military operations, which reportedly included assaults on civilians and the destruction of a culturally significant monument.
“I condemn, in no uncertain terms, the unacceptable act of destruction of the statue of the Zugran of the Kusaug Traditional Area, Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, by some military personnel,” Ayariga said in the statement, referring to the symbolic leader of the Kusaug people.
The incident marks a new flashpoint in the long-standing tensions in the Upper East Region, where armed clashes and ethnic disputes have drawn repeated security interventions. Ayariga’s call for accountability adds pressure on the military high command to explain the conduct of its forces amid growing criticism from civil society and community leaders.
In addition to denouncing the actions of the troops, Mr. Ayariga condemned an earlier attack by unidentified gunmen on a vehicle reportedly being escorted by soldiers. “The violent gun attack by unknown youth on the vehicle escorted by soldiers is equally condemned,” he noted. “Further attacks must cease.”
The lawmaker appealed to the youth of the Kusaug Traditional Area to refrain from retaliation and urged the government to swiftly address what he described as infiltration of political elements into the military’s operations in the region.
“I appeal to the Kusasis youth to calm down as government takes urgent steps to investigate the infiltrations into the ranks of the military by elements who seek to politicize and further destabilize the situation in Bawku,” Mr.Ayariga said.
He concluded his remarks by offering condolences to the families affected by the violence and renewed his call for a de-escalation of hostilities in the area.
Bawku has long been a hotspot for ethnic and chieftaincy disputes, and despite repeated security deployments, sporadic violence continues to unsettle the region. Sunday's events appear to have further strained already fragile relations between the military and local residents.
