Sam Nartey George, the MP for Ningo Prampram, has lambasted the country’s security system, especially the Ghana Armed Forces, for their inability to end the violent conflicts in Bawku.
On Wednesday, April 5, 2023, Sam George stated in a TV3 interview that the ongoing violence and killings in Bawku prove that the military’s intelligence infrastructure has totally failed.
He went on to say that the Ghanaian military is now frightened to enter Bawku, which has become so unsafe that MPs who had planned to go there to help settle the conflict between the fighting groups became stranded in Tamale and eventually had to make their way back to Accra.
“Mr Speaker set up a committee, the intelligence committee, and asked them to go to Bawku led by the Chairman, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
“They informed the military high command, they flew from Accra, got to Tamale, they we supposed to be met in Tamale by a team of military officers to escort them from Tamale, then when they get to Bawku, the military was supposed to provide them with a security cordon for them to go and talk to both sides.
“The Ghana Armed Forces informed the Parliament of Ghana that they cannot provide security and that they cannot go into Bawku. Our army is afraid of going into Bawku … yet you have them going to Ashaiman and beating everybody and making them drink gutter water,” he said.
“They were showing themselves as King Kong there in Ashaiman. If you are strong, the boys in Bawku are misbehaving go there and check them,” he added.
The representative made these words in response to the shooting of three security personnel in Bawku, which resulted in a death and two injuries.
Unknown gunmen opened fire and murdered Ghana Immigration Service personnel. According to 3news.com, he and two other police officers were attacked and are now battling for their lives at the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital.
Philip Motey was recognised as deceased, while Eric Ayibiya, 30, and Lawrence Afri, 42, were identified as colleagues. The men were ambushed on their way to Missiga on the evening of Monday, April 3, 2023, in the volatile neighbourhood.
According to the article, it is still not clear why the attackers did what they did. Some people have thought that the attack had something to do with the current conflict in Bawku.
Reports have surfaced recently detailing how gunmen have often terrorised residents of Bawku, causing them to live in constant fear. At the same time, the local military’s presence has been strengthened.
