Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul has announced that the government will transport 500 more military personnel to Bawku in the Upper East Region next week to maintain peace.
According to the Minister, there are currently 400 soldiers in the community to assist with the conflict.
The sector Minister however, charged the military to treat individuals involved in the disturbances as criminals saying the conflict is no longer tied to chieftaincy issues.
Speaking on the floor of parliament on Wednesday, 8th February, 2023, the minister assured that the government was committed to addressing the issue.
“What is happening today is not about chieftaincy. It is criminality. Those operating are criminals. I have asked members of the armed forces to deal with such persons as pure criminals. Government has done what it can on its part to ensure that Bawku is peaceful. We have moved Bawku from 50 to 400 soldiers, so we are sending another 500 military task force to Bawku alone next week.”
Mahama Ayariga, Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, accused the military of shooting indiscriminately into indigenes fleeing for cover, killing seven of them.
Ayariga then petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) about the alleged military killing.
In response to the alleged military killing, Ayariga filed a petition with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
The Ghana Armed Forces later denied the accusations. They claimed in a statement that they engaged an armed combatant in Bawku and killed six of them.
In addition to investigations into the incident, the MP is calling for compensation of GH 500,000 for each person who was killed by the military.
The Minority in Parliament has called for an ad-hoc committee to probe the alleged killing.