Withdraw GAF from Bawku to preserve lives -ADAM-GH to UN

Anchoring Democracy Advocacy Movement-Ghana
(ADAM-GH) is urging the United Nations(UN) to as a matter of urgency withdraw  personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces(GAF) from Bawku Municipality.
Failure of which,it says might end up in a genocidal situation.

The civil society group at a press briefing last Monday expressed fear of a possible genocidal situation following what it termed "State-sponsored conflict in Bawku" where nearly one thousand lives have so far been lost within the Bawku Municipality of the Upper East Region.

The government's commitment to finding a lasting solution to the dehumanizing situation in Bawku is nothing short of enabling the killing of innocent souls in Bawku,the group bemoaned.

The briefing addressed by the Executive Secretary,Mr. Azubila Emmanuel Abdul-Salam assisted by Mr. Ibrahim Mumuni,the Director of Operations, ADAM-GH re-echoing the need to avert the antecdents leading to the unfortunate deaths of some eight innocent Ghanaians at the 2020 elections particularly as the 2024 elections are just few months away.

Held on the themed, "Let's protect the integrity, the moral and respect of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF),he pointed out that, some high-profiled personalities in the Akufo Addo-Bawumia government are twisting the alms of the security using state security apparatus to fight what it termed "Tribal conflict', with the Kusasis being the most hit by. 

Refrerring to attacks as venomous,Mr Azubila decried that the military who are supposed to ensure peace are being used by the State to foment trouble with impunity,a situation he noted deserves an urgent mitigation.

Highlighting some unfortunate happenings in the area, Mr. Azubila outlined that soldiers and national security elements on record have killed women and children in the area rather ensuring their safety.

He recounted that a soldier was spotted molesting a woman and set her 4-year old child ablaze in the presence of the her and when she cried and  fetch water to put off the fire, the heartless soldier shot her to death.

He disclosed that some military men belonging to one of the feuding tribes were deployed to Buabula community killing people indiscriminately but in an attempt by the community to resist further attacks, three members of those soldiers were shot.

"Early last year, national security personnel in military uniforms, and armoured cars stormed Buabula again and killed 8 unarmed innocent Ghanaians".

Also, he revealed that a national security operative called Fatau Nambe who was an aide to Bryan Acheampong,a former minister in charge of national security was killed by the locals at the battle front wearing military uniform at the instance of picking intelligence that the national security personnel were going storm the area. But he said luck eluded him and he  was neutralize at the battlefield.

He added that towards the end of 2023,  so-called national security personnel were spotted carrying weapons and ammunition in a Toyota V8 passing through Guru at night and he was caught by the vigilant group of Guru and handed them to the police.

Sadly, he said the rather  patriotic action of the people of Guru incited soldiers, and national security personnel to storm Guru and brutalized people of the community resulting in the death of one and leaving others paralyzed.

"It will interest you to note that this conflict has been imported from Bawku to Bolga, regional capital of  Upper East,Walewale, the Nasia stretch of Mamprugu traditional area in the North East Region, and Greater Accra Region by these untouchable national security operatives attacking public transports loading from Bawku and passing through Walewale on daily basis creating unnecessary tension between Kusasis and Mamprusis countrywide",he bemoaned.

"Unarmed civilians cannot be used as guinea pigs or used for shooting practice by our soldiers in Bawku.It is a big shame for the Ghana Armed Forces as an institution",he added.